While Pakatan Rakyat in Penang faces the loss of Malay support, its counterpart in Selangor is confident that it is in a better situation.

"I don’t believe that the Malay NONE s do not support the current (state) government," responded Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim at a press conference in Shah Alam today.

He said the Malays, who make up 50 percent of voters in the state, have been receptive to programmes and initiatives, which are inclusive of all the people.

"What is important is that we rule the state for all (races)," he stressed.

Penang Pakatan notables have admitted to waning support from the Malay community, blaming Umno propaganda and the mainstream media for this.

Khalid also brushed aside questions of any reshuffle in the state exco, saying there are no such plans.

‘Get students back to Egypt’

He further urged the federal government to assist students, including those from Selangor, who had recently been evacuated from Egypt.

Khalid said it is the federal government’s responsibility to ensure that they return to their universities, and to provide funds for this.

"If the federal government thinks that the state should share the costs, we are willing (to contribute)," he said.

However, no decision has been made if the state government will foot the entire bill to send students from Selangor back to Egypt.

"We are looking into it,” he added.