KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 ― With rumours flying over the appointment of the next Selangor mentri besar, the state ruler should explain his position in delaying granting an audience to Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as a prospective candidate when she holds the majority support of the assembly, PKR's Sivarasa Rasiah said.
Pointing to the legal precedent set by Perak in the appointment of a new mentri besar, the lawyer and lawmaker asked if the sultan was being properly advised on his role as a constitutional monarch in the matter.
"I appeal to HRH and his legal advisers to take into account the clear interpretation placed upon the identical provision in the Perak Constitution by the Federal Court in deciding who to appoint as the next Selangor Menteri Besar.
"If Wan Azizah is to be refused her appointment as the next Menteri Besar, there ought to be at the very least an explanation of which provision of the State Constitution is being invoked to prevent her from being considered for the appointment and why," the Subang MP said in a statement last night.
Sivarasa pointed out that Selangor's constitution is "identical" to the Perak constitution, which laid out the freedom for the state ruler to appoint a person as mentri besar so long as the individual commands the confidence of most of the elected represenatives at the time.
The PKR legal advisor added that the country's highest court also upheld this political principle when it ruled in favour of Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir as the lawful Perak mentri besar in 2010.
Sivarasa said Dr Wan Azizah has since shown she commands the support of 30 out of Selangor's 56-seat lawmaking house but has yet to be called for an interview with the monarch even as anonymous sources claiming three of her fellow Pakatan Rakyat (PR) representatives have been "interviewed" as prospective candidates by the palace over the MB job.
The Sunday Star newspaper reported yesterday that the three were PAS state executive councillors Iskandar Samad and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, and Dr Wan Azizah’s deputy, Azmin Ali.
PKR has remained adamant that Dr Wan Azizah is the best choice for the MB post, as the PKR president previously secured from 30 state lawmakers in the 56-seat Selangor assembly.
The party has insisted that this was clear proof that she commands the majority support among the state’s elected representatives.
Another paper, Berita Harian reported today that Azmin is a shoo-in for the post after PAS's Iskandar declined, allegedly for health reasons.
But sources close to Azmin told Malay Mail Online today that the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman has not received official word from the palace to confirm his prospects as the next mentri besar.
