Amirudin said this was just empty talk based on the “wild imagination” of certain individuals who were seeking to spread that narrative via social media, Sinar Harian reported.
The PKR vice-president also said he did not want to see a repeat of the “Kajang Move” in 2014, which culminated in the late Abdul Khalid Ibrahim resigning as the then Selangor menteri besar.
The “Kajang Move” refers to PKR’s plan in 2014 to trigger a by-election in the Kajang state seat to install Anwar Ibrahim as the next Selangor menteri besar to replace Khalid, who was seen as going against party policies.
The move fizzled out after Anwar’s conviction in his sodomy case was upheld by the Court of Appeal, and eventually led to Azmin Ali being appointed menteri besar.
Amirudin said that episode had triggered political uncertainty in Selangor although Khalid’s state government initially had a solid majority in the legislative assembly.
“I don’t think (I will vacate the seat). I want to complete my term (as menteri besar) in full and ensure harmony because there are a lot of things that we need to settle.
“This (speculation) doesn’t need to be prolonged. (PKR’s) focus is on aligning our leadership and the issues related to the cohesion of the federal and state governments, as well as the upcoming Sabah election,” he said.
Tengku Zafrul, the investment, trade and industry minister, had quit Umno last week and expressed his intention to join PKR.
There has been speculation over his fate as minister as his final term as senator expires at the end of the year. Also, there is public expectation of a Cabinet reshuffle as Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad have quit their ministerial posts.
In a Facebook video yesterday, former Umno leader Isham Jalil claimed that Amirudin would be ordered to vacate his Sungai Tua seat to allow Tengku Zafrul to contest in the by-election.
Winning the by-election could then allow Tengku Zafrul to take over as menteri besar, as speculated previously, while Amirudin could join Anwar’s Cabinet as he is also the Gombak MP at present.