PAS has joined fellow PKR elected representatives in pressuring Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to appoint party members to positions in government-linked companies (GLCs) as the 9th PKR Congress gets under way today.

NONE PAS' Chempaka state assemblyperson Iskandar Abdul Samad said as Pakatan Rakyat entered its second term in ruling Selangor, its party members have received sufficient exposure to the workings and administration of government and it was time they be given the opportunity in GLCs.

"With the involvement of party members, they can ensure that direction and workings of a GLC is in line with the purpose and aspiration of Pakatan. Reform would not be possible without the involvement of party members," he said in a statement yesterday.

However, Iskandar said those appointed must have the relevant qualifications and experience and the positions be divided equally among the three Pakatan component parties as the number of seats they won were almost equal.

Iskandar, who was a Selangor cabinet member, was coming out in support of Selangor PKR information chief Shuhaimi Shafiei, who said Selangor PKR will move a motion on the matter at the party's congress today.

"Selangor PKR will urge for the involvement of PKR members in making important decisions in GLCs in states ruled by Pakatan.

"Last term, the GLCs were left on their own in BN's mould. It is time for a holistic reformation in all GLCs and government departments so that their actions are in line with the stance of the state government," he was quoted as saying in a Sinar Harian report yesterday.

Selangor MB against move

PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is also Ampang MP, had made a similar call on May 17, but denied that the party wanted to take control of state resources and explained that it was to ensure that Pakatan policies are better translated at the state level.

Selangor PKR had also urged PKR deputy president Azmin Ali to be appointed as a senior exco member in the Selangor state government.

khalid ibrahim interview 190513 01 However, Abdul Khalid ( right ) has yet to reveal the line-up of the exco and declined to confirm whether Azmin would be among them.

In an interview with Malaysiakini , Abdul Khaid had acknowledged that there were proposals to appoint party members into GLCs, but he remained steadfast against such a move.

"So many of my party members wanted to use GLCs to get money that can be used for campaigning. I tell them, eh, we are trying to do reformasi (reform). We cannot abuse people's money. That cannot be accepted," he told Malaysiakini .