Long before he led Selangor’s state government from March 13, 2008, to Sept 22, 2014, Khalid was already one of the most important men in the country’s history, mainly for his role in the dawn attack on the London Stock Exchange, which led to the successful takeover of Guthrie Corporation, a British-owned company.
He was included in the team involved in the Guthrie Corporation takeover plan, which was carefully prepared by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as Bank Negara governor and PNB chairman Ismail Ali.
Khalid’s experience of working as a financial adviser in London had also helped ensure the success of the top-secret plan to pull off a “heist” on all Guthrie Corporation’s plantations on behalf of the country.
Khalid graduated with an economics degree from Universiti Malaya (UM) in 1971 before pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Queensland, Australia in 1976.
He began his career as a teacher and lecturer before venturing into the corporate world and had held top posts in several companies. He was also Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) director, Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd director, and Pelaburan Hartanah Nasional Berhad director.
His political career began in 1995 with Umno when he stood for the post of Kuala Selangor Umno chief but lost to then Jeram assemblyman Miskon Sutero.
Khalid achieved his greatest success in politics when he won the Ijok state seat on a PKR ticket in the 12th general election in 2008. The historic polls also saw the fall of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in the state for the first time.
The then opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, comprising PKR, DAP and PAS formed the new state government, with the former businessman appointed menteri besar on March 13, 2008.
During his six-year tenure leading the Selangor government, Khalid had, among others, introduced the Hasil Negeri Untuk Rakyat (state’s revenue channelled back to the people) policy in 2008.
It saw various welfare programmes under the Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) agenda being implemented with an allocation of over RM1.6 billion benefitting at least four million people in the state. This made him a menteri besar that was loved by many.
Through his prudent spending policies, the Selangor government’s cash reserves increased to RM3.3 billion by the time his tenure ended in 2014. The funds were then used for development projects, such as the construction of the Klang Third Bridge and affordable housing for the people.
Under his administration, Selangor continued to be the catalyst for economic growth by contributing approximately 24% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and maintaining its position as one of the top investment destinations in the country.
The state government under Khalid’s leadership had also reached an agreement with the federal government and four concession companies to restructure water services after going through a process which began in 2008 so that all water assets can be returned to the people while ensuring international standard water services at reasonable prices.
His services and advice were still being sought after even when he was no longer a menteri besar, as proved when he was made the Terengganu economic adviser, a post which he held since 2018.
Khalid breathed his last at the Cardiac Vascular Sentral (CVS) Hospital in Kuala Lumpur at 11.08pm yesterday. He was 76.
A post on his Facebook page announced that Khalid had been warded since April 23 due to a heart valve infection.
He leaves behind his widow Salbiah Tunut, four children and two grandchildren.
In keeping with a decree by the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Khalid was laid to rest at the Shah Alam Royal Mausoleum in Section 5.