KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 — A picture purportedly showing PKR deputy president Azmin Ali at the Selangor palace for a rehearsal of the mentri besar swearing-in ceremony has been making its rounds among state lawmakers.
The picture, according to one DAP lawmaker, was sent to a WhatsApp group chat comprising Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers.
The lawmaker said Azmin, who is also in the chat group, stayed silent when several assemblymen congratulated him.
“From our YBs group,” the lawmaker told Malay Mail Online via text message, when asked for the source of the photograph.
“Some YBs congratulate AA but Azmin keep quiet,” the assemblyman added, using to the Malay abbreviation for “Yang Berhormat”, which is often used to refer to a state assemblyman.
The lawmaker then pointed out that from the height and size of the man in the picture, photographed wearing a songkok and holding up a document as though reciting an oath, it was unlikely to be PAS’s Iskandar Samad or PKR’s Dr Idris Ahmad, both of whom were also speculated to be potential mentri besar appointees.
“He cannot be Kak Wan with songkok,” the lawmaker jokingly added, referring to PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
When contacted, however, Azmin denied that he is the man in the picture.
“Not true,” he said via text message.
Earlier, he told Malay Mail Online that he has not received any formal notification from the palace of his supposed appointment.
Malay Mail Online understands from a party source, however, that the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman could be treading carefully to avoid pre-empting any decision on the matter, especially with his party still adamant on PKR president Dr Wan Azizah as the preferred MB candidate.
It is also understood that the new Selangor MB would have to take part in rehearsals for tomorrow’s swearing-in ceremony.
“But if this is true, Azmin has not received any word. He is being careful, does not want to pre-empt palace,” the source added.
Malay daily Berita Harian reported today that Azmin is expected to be sworn in as the new Selangor mentri besar tomorrow.
Citing unnamed sources, the paper reported that the Selangor palace had initially picked Iskandar for the post but the PAS assemblyman turned down the offer, allegedly due to health reasons.
“The palace will only announce Azmin’s appointment tomorrow (today) through a press statement or a press conference with His Royal Highness’ consent,” the anonymous source was quoted as saying.
“Then, the appointment of six new state executive councillors will be done on Friday, while the four executive councillors from PAS will be retained,” the source added.
English-language daily The Star reported Saturday that Azmin, as well as PAS state executive councillors Iskandar and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, were interviewed by the Selangor palace separately last week on their potential to be the next mentri besar.
Iskandar, who is Selangor PAS commissioner and Cempaka assemblyman, and Dr Ahmad Yunus, PAS’s Sijangkang assemblyman, were two of the three individuals named by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in the party’s list of potential mentri besar candidates to the Sultan.
Dr Wan Azizah was reportedly not among those interviewed by the Selangor Sultan, despite having obtained majority support of the 56-seat state legislative assembly through statutory declarations from 30 assemblymen.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in a statement yesterday that Dr Wan Azizah remained the party’s sole nominee as MB.
