Sunday June 29, 2008 MYT 3:04:24 PM

Khalid: I advised Anwar's brother to quit

By DHARMENDER SINGH

KLANG: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said he had personally suggested Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s younger brother Rusli quit his post as special adviser to Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) president Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar.

Describing the resignation as "sad but necessary," Khalid said he told Rusli to quit in view of the accusations that were being hurled at Anwar and the Pakatan Rakyat state government.

He said he had not been aware of Rusli’s appointment as adviser and Rusli had acted on his own accord when accepting and later resigning from the post.

“It is a tough and sad thing (the resignation) but as a transparent and responsible state government we cannot have even the perception that there is a conflict of interest (in the state administration),” he told reporters after launching the 1,000 Youths Gathering programme here on Sunday.

Khalid said it was a difficult request for him to have made, but it had been necessary to keep with Pakatan’s promise of a transparent and accountable government.

Rusli, 59, resigned from the post on June 25 due to allegations by former PKR stalwart Ezam Mohd Nor that Rusli was appointed as adviser to KDEB because of his blood ties to Anwar.

Rusli responded on Saturday, saying he was not appointed KDEB’s adviser but as special adviser to Datuk Karim based on his corporate experience and not because he was Anwar’s brother.

He had also claimed that neither Anwar not Khalid had been aware of the appointment.