KUALA LUMPUR, August 4 — Linked to dubious business deals, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim challenged today PKR to report him to the authorities but told them they must be able to prove the allegations that have cast a shadow on his integrity.

The PKR state lawmaker warned his party colleague that he may take legal action for the defamatory statements against him, saying the allegations have invited speculation that they were “politically motivated and in bad faith”.

“The accusations leveled against me by Parti Keadilan Rakyat leader Datuk Saifuddin Nasution are very serious. They are categorically untrue,” Khalid said in a statement.

The Port Klang assemblyman pledged to cooperate with any investigation launched against him by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Royal Malaysian Police and Bank Negara.

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Pending the investigations, he said he continue to serve the people of Selangor “with the fullest commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance”.

In a damning press conference held earlier today, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution accused Khalid of being involved in “dubious” deals after a debt was settled with Bank Islam.

He also said the embattled state chief had been acting without consulting Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) top leadership, despite agreeing to do so.

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Saifuddin said he was tasked by the party to compile a report, more than 50 pages thick, on reasons behind the party’s decision to ask Khalid to step down, and for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s wife and party president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to take over.

The report which includes notes from party meeting minutes as well as court proceedings, will be delivered to the top PR leadership starting tomorrow.

Despite the accusations, Saifuddin said the party has not lodge any report with the country’s anti-graft body or with the police.

PKR has attempted to remove Khalid since the “Kajang Move” in March to replace him with Anwar.

A court decision days before the nomination day however, indirectly barred Anwar from contesting the state seat, which led Wan Azizah to contest for the Kajang seat vacated by the party’s own Lee Chin Cheh, and won.

Although DAP and PKR leaders are reportedly in agreement to remove Khalid, a faction in PAS, led by the Islamist party’s president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and several other powerful leaders, has questioned the move and even showed strong backing for Khalid.

In light of the disagreement within PAS to remove Khalid, Saifuddin said he hoped that the report would shed light to the reasons behind the party’s decision to take such a drastic move.

PAS leaders are scheduled to meet on August 10 to decide on the next move.

Khalid has insisted that he will not resign and will serve until his second term ends.