Palace does not want remote-controlled MB, says report
The Malaysian Insider – 4 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
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Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah wants a menteri besar who can serve the people of the state, not a remote-controlled leader, The Star reported today.
Quoting a source close to the Selangor palace, the paper reported that a menteri besar must put the interests of the state and rakyat first.
"The sultan wants someone who will take care of the rakyat's needs and develop Selangor to higher levels," the English daily reported.
"The MB should be able to work with all parties, including his own exco members. Moreover, the individual should have a good relationship with the palace."
The source also said Pakatan Rakyat should not mix internal party issues with the Selangor administration.
"This is an internal party problem. It should not disrupt the running of the state," the source said.
The bitter tussle between Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Pakatan Rakyat culminated in his sacking by PKR.
Khalid then sacked five DAP and PKR exco members, while another resigned. He only retained four PAS exco members which enabled the state government to continue functioning.
However, on August 17, PAS decided to go along with the decision of DAP and PKR and supported the appointment of a new MB.
Although Khalid tendered his resignation, the Sultan of Selangor has deferred his resignation until a new MB was appointed.
Sultan Sharafuddin gave PAS, DAP and PKR until September 3 to submit more than two names for the MB post.
PKR and DAP have submitted Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's name as the MB candidate while PAS had said it would submit more than one name.
The Star reported that the sultan had also conveyed his feelings about anti-palace remarks made by certain politicians that were damaging and hurtful and bordering on sedition.
He said the palace was hurt and offended by the continuous attacks from certain quarters.
“The palace has been quiet but people keep on making anti-palace remarks," said the source, adding that the remarks were offensive.
“Certain lawyers from political parties are hired to interpret things according to what the client wants."
The source said the Selangor ruler was not worried as the crisis was created by the present menteri besar’s own party before he was expelled.
“The state government is still fully functioning. Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim is still the menteri besar and His Royal Highness will take his time to make the best decision for the rakyat.
“There is no need to panic as the current government is not just a mere caretaker government, it is a full government. It is just a matter of changing a menteri besar from Pakatan," the source was reported as saying by The Star. – August 29, 2014.
