SHAH ALAM, Aug 27- The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has postponed accepting the resignation of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid as Selangor menteri besar (MB) until the appointment of a MB has been resolved.
Abdul Khalid said the Selangor Sultan made the decision so as to ensure a smooth state government administration.”I have informed (the Sultan) that the political dynamics in Selangor have changed and have caused uneasiness among the people. For the sake of continued stability in the state, I have expressed to tuanku my wish to resign as Selangor menteri besar.
“Tuanku took note of my wish and decided to postpone accepting my resignation until the process of appointing a new menteri besar is over,” he told a news conference after an audience with the Selangor Sultan at Istana Bukit Kayangan, here, Tuesday.
Abdul Khalid said in light of this, the Sultan had ordered the leaders in the opposition pact comprising PAS, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and DAP to propose more than two names from each party as candidates for the menteri besar post.
According to him, this was to make it easier for the Sultan to decide on the most eligible candidate for the post.Abdul Khalid said this was in line with the convention in the appointment of a menteri besar for Selangor.
“As provided under Articles LI (1), LIII (2)(a), (4) and LV (2)(a) of the Selangor State Constitution 1959, the Selangor Sultan is given the absolute discretionary power to appoint a menteri besar for the Selangor state government who in the ruler’s opinion has the majority support of the State Legislative Assembly.”
Abdul Khalid said he left it to the Sultan’s wisdom to decide on the solution to the Selangor leadership crisis in the interest of the “rakyat” (people).
While promising to abide by the Sultan’s decision, Abdul Khalid believed that the Sultan would place the public and state’s interests above other things in making the decision.
Asked whether the Sultan requesting for more than two names from each of the Pakatan Rakyat allies as candidates for the menteri besar post was an indication of the ruler’s rejection of the proposed lone candidacy of PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, he said the matter did not arise at all during his audience with the Selangor Sultan today.
“This was the procedure (to obtain the list of names for the menteri besar post) taken by the palace not just during Pakatan Rakyat rule of the state but also during Barisan Nasional (BN) rule previously,” he said.
Asked whether the time for the naming of candidates for the menteri besar post had been fixed, Abdul Khalid said the palace would be writing to the leaders of each party in Pakatan Rakyat on the Sultan’s request.
Asked on the Sultan’s criteria with regard to candidates for the post, he said: “Usually, the palace will seek opinions on those eligible for the post.
“The usual consideration is that the candidates must have the confidence of the state assembly and this is in line with the convention. Whatever it is, the three parties (PKR, PAS and DAP) each need to propose up to a maximum of four names for consideration by His Highness.”
According to Abdul Khalid, the Sultan’s decision of asking for more than two names from each of the parties as candidates for the menteri besar post had nothing to do with Dr Wan Azizah’s selection as the only candidate.”The Sultan explained to me that the request for more candidates was similarly practised during his father’s reign,” he said.
On DAP which does not have a Malay state assemblyman in Selangor, Abdul Khalid said the party could nominate candidates from PKR and PAS.”DAP had nominated me (as menteri besar),” he said.Abdul Khalid said he would also not interfere with the selection of candidates to be the new menteri besar, adding that it was up to the Sultan to appoint someone who was not Selangor-born to the post.
Asked whether Sultan Sharafuddin had sought his advice to dissolve the state assembly as a solution to the political crisis in Selangor, he said the matter was not discussed at the audience with the Sultan which had focused more on solving the menteri besar issue.
Asked on the possibility of calling for an emergency state assembly sitting, Abdul Khalid said the matter also did not arise at the moment.
He said, meanwhile, he would continue administering the state together with the four state executive council members from PAS until a new menteri besar was appointed.Abdul Khalid said he would also remain as Port Klang assemblyman as he was given the mandate to hold the post by the voters in the 13th general election last year.
Abdul Khalid who appeared calm throughout the half-hour press conference, was also asked why he wanted to resign as menteri besar, to which he casually said with a smile, “They don’t want me anymore.” This drew laughter from those present.
Asked whether he would accept the offer for the menteri besar post if he was nominated by the Pakatan Rakyat allies, he said, “No, I am very happy to be released from the job.”
– BERNAMA
