SHAH ALAM, June 27 — PKR’s Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim relinquished today his party post as the Selangor chief, making way for his colleague Azmin Ali with immediate effect.

The appointment was made by PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail at the party’s central leadership council meeting here.

Datuk Zaid Ibrahim was also appointed as the party’s new Federal Territory chief, replacing Azmin.

Khalid (picture, left) , who is also the Selangor mentri besar, told reporters he chose to give up his party hat despite receiving much support from top party leaders.

“I want to concentrate on the state administration and developing the state,” the businessman-turned-politician explained.

The first-term MB was propelled into the CEO seat of Malaysia’s richest state after the landmark general elections two years ago.

The unexpected revamp is seen as a bid to mend the reported rift growing within the party pitting Khalid’s admirers against vice-president Azmin, who is seen as the more politically savvy of the two.

The MB and Azmin (picture, right) both rejected the view as one manipulated by media reports.

Azmin explained that the reshuffle was to make the party more effective and efficient in reaching out to voters ahead of the next general elections.

“It’s clearer now. There’s a clear delegation of roles and tasks among Tan Sri Khalid, Datuk Zaid and myself. We want to be more efficient…because of the time constraints.

“We were told the general elections will be held soon. We want to be more effective. The state will implement the policies agreed upon by the party and we will step up our reach to the voters, especially the Malay ground,” Azmin said.

“My job is to recruit more members and voters,” he added.

The new Selangor chief noted that previously, the state party mechanism suffered from “overlapping duties” due to Khalid’s doubled burden to state and party.