Rafizi Ramli...?

Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Kajang dari PKR, Lee Chin Cheh hari ini mengosongkan kerusinya..

Ini dipercayai bagi membolehkan pilihan raya kecil diadakan untuk memberi laluan kepada Anwar Ibrahim atau Rafizi bertanding dan menjadi Menteri Besar Selangor yang baru jika menang.

Speaker DUN Selangor, Hannah Yeoh dalam sidang media tergemparnya mengumumkan sudah menerima surat perletakan jawatan daripada Lee sebentar tadi.

"Ini selaras dengan Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Selangor Perkara 68 bahawa seseorang ahli dewan negeri boleh melepaskan keahliannya melalui surat di bawah tanda tangannya dan ditujukan kepada Speaker.

"Selaras dengan Fasal 5 Perkara 70 Undang-undang Tunjh Kerajaan Selangor sesuatu kekosongan luar jangka hendaklah diisi dalam masa 60 hari dari tarikh kekosongan itu berlaku dan saya akan memaklumkan secara bertulis kepada Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya esok," katanya dalam sidang media hari ini.

Dalam pada itu Hannah enggan mengulas mengenai desas-desus peletakan jawatan Lee ini ada kaitan dengan Anwar yang mahu menggantikan Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim sebagai menteri besar.

Lee memenangi kerusi Kajang dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 tahun lalu dengan mendapat majoriti 6,824 undi. Beliau yang memperoleh 19,571 undi menewaskan calon BN Lee Ban Seng yang mendapat 12,747 undi sementara empat calon lain hilang deposit.

Terdahulu Ketua Pembangkang dijangka menjadi Menteri Besar Selangor baru menggantikan Khalid yang bersetuju untuk meletakkan jawatan, lapor The Star Online hari ini.

Khalid dipercayai akan mengumumkan keputusannya Rabu ini dan perbincangan dalam PKR kini bertumpu untuk mengatur pilihanraya kecil peringkat DUN bagi membolehkan Anwar dinobat sebagai MB.

KUALA LUMPUR - Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh has tendered his resignation, triggering red-hot speculation he is paving the way for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim to contest the seat so as to take over the job of Selangor chief from the fumbling Khalid Ibrahim. 

However, before the dust could even settle on the shock resignation news, there was further speculation as to who else could Anwar's PKR party nominate to contest the Kajang seat. 

Among the hottest names are Rafizi Ramli, the fast-rising and multi-talented Member of Parliament for Pandan. 

"Rafizi has got everything going for him. He would be front-runner for job if Anwar is convinced he can cope with the magnitude of the office. 

But there's no reason why Rafizi cannot as he has been a top corporate man and should be able to handle it like Lim Guan Eng, who had even less experience when DAP swept Penang in 2008," a PKR insider told Malaysia Chronicle. 

Malaysia Chronicle could not reach Rafizi for his comment. 

Other PKR leaders including Anwar have yet to respond. 

No longer tenable for Anwar to defend Khalid 

While the biggest bets are for Anwar to take over as the Selangor Mentri Besar, many believe he would prefer to pass the hot potato to Rafizi or some other PKR candidate. 

"Anwar is for the whole country. I think he wants to maintain that national perspective. Unless, there is no choice, we don't expect Anwar to accept the Kajang seat," said the PKR insider. 

It is not clear yet why Lee has decided to resign but Selangor Speaker Hannah Yeoh has confirmed the news. 

Hannah declined to comment on whether it was related to the perceived differences between Khalid and Anwar, which Anwar had earlier today denied. 

"That is the wrong view of the situation. Anwar would actually like Khalid to stay but Khalid made too many mistakes and it is no longer tenable for Anwar to defend him. Yes, Selangor has a huge surplus reserve cash but so what. Khalid should be spending the money wisely to re-generate the economy, mend the roads, improve facilities and the lives of the poor in the state. But it is not happening," the source said. 

"At the same time, he and his aides, Faekah and Arfa, have become too arrogant and bold. But they fumbled when they tried to straddle different boats at the same time. 

"The mistakes were with the late response to the JAIS raid, the crazy pay hike for the Exco, the sudden withdrawal in the Syabas water takeover deal and of course the PKNS ouster of Azmin Ali, which has got the whole Selangor PKR riled up and threatening to resign if Khalid is not punished for the perceived backstabbing. 

"That was totally unprovoked and may finish off Khalid. But anyway he is nearing 70 and the most he can do is complete his term till GE14. So it is better he make way for someone dynamic now, who can ensure Selangor stays with Pakatan."

It must be noted that Khalid himself has denied he was being pushed to quit. 

"I am still the Selangor Menteri Besar and I am not going anywhere. I strongly deny these rumours and I hope that the media is more careful in its speculation. Do your research first. There is a process that has to be done first if change was to take place," Khalid told reporters this morning. 

"I have spoken to Anwar before, but our discussions were on other matters. This (his resignation) did not crop up." ~ Malaysia Chronicle

Sebab-sebab ADUN Kajang ini meletakkan jawatannya sila baca di SINI