Azmin to have an audience with Selangor Ruler over Cabinet appointment
Sunday, 20 May 201811:30 AM MYT
by wani muthiah
KLANG: Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will have an audience with Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on whether he is leaving the state to take up a coveted Cabinet position.
This follows as the newly appointed Cabinet ministers are expected to be sworn in before the King at Istana Negara on Monday (May 21) morning.
Azmin arrived at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam near here on Sunday (May 20).
However, announcement of Azmin’s audience with Sultan Sharafuddin has not been made yet by the Mentri Besar’s strategic communications unit.
Azmin was appointed as the Economic Affairs Minister in Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s newly formed Cabinet.
There is a bigger possibility of Azmin taking up his new appointment, given it is a senior and important position in the Federal Government, then remaining as the Mentri Besar.
He had met Dr Mahathir on Saturday (May 19) to seek clarification over the ministry’s scope as well as the responsibility expected of him.
Since Selangor is led by PKR, the next Mentri Besar will also come from the party.
In accordance with the Selangor State Constitution 1959, the Mentri Besar has to be a Muslim.
This is because the Sultan is the head of Islam in the state and the Mentri Besar has religious responsibilities.
For instance, during the fasting month every year, the Sultan and Mentri Besar visit mosques in the state to break fast and perform the terawih prayers with the people.
It is also not viable for a woman to take up the position due to certain restrictions when carrying out religious duties.
If Azmin announces he will be quitting as Mentri Besar and moving to the Federal Government, there are several PKR assemblymen who are already in the state executive line-up who can be considered for the position.
The three are Amiruddin Shaari (Sungai Tua), Dr Idris Ahmad (Ijok) and Prof Dr Shaharuddin Badarudin (Seri Setia).
Other male Malay Muslims from PKR who are assemblymen in the state are Mohd Fauzi Ahmad (Sungai Panjang), Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia), Najwan Halimi (Kota Anggerik), Syamsul Firdaus Mohamed Supri (Taman Medan), Shatiri Mansor (Kota Damansara), Azmizam Zaman Huri (Pelabuhan Klang), Shuhaimi Shafiee (Sungai Kandis) and Borhan Aman Shah (Tanjong Sepat).
Any one of them can be appointed as the Selangor Mentri Besar.
However, it all depends on Sultan Sharafuddin as he is given the right to choose a Mentri Besar of his choice under the Selangor constitution.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/20/azmin-to-have-an-audience-with-selangor-ruler-over-cabinet-appointment/#2BtAKLJK5uLJTjVS.99
