SHAH ALAM, Dec 4 ― Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must quit as Selangor economic advisor to prove his integrity, Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) said today after Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah's announcement that the Opposition Leader's Datukship has been rescinded.
Selangor Opposition Leader Datuk Shamsudin Lias said he agreed with the Selangor Sultan's decision, claiming that Anwar had been the cause behind the state's protracted mentri besar crisis, which he said had been nothing but a waste of time and money.
“Anwar must withdraw, step down as Selangor economic advisor.
“He is the cause of the MB crisis, the Kajang by-election, which was a waste of money,” the Sungai Burong assemblyman told reporters at a news conference here.
The Selangor government's preoccupation with the MB crisis led to an abandonment of other major issues affecting the state, Shamsudin added.
“Selangor's problems were put on hold. Look at the dengue spike in the state for the last nine months,” the Umno leader said.
Earlier today, it was announced that the Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin had decided to revoke Anwar's datukship over the opposition leader's conduct during the state mentri besar crisis.
The Selangor palace said the revocation of the award took effect on November 3, and that Anwar's title was removed because he had repeatedly disputed the Sultan and the royal house over the MB crisis since 2013.
“The decision is based on Anwar’s repeated questioning of the integrity of the Selangor Sultan and royal institution in resolving the Selangor MB crisis, as well as his questioning of issues related to Islam,” the Selangor Sultan's private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, said in a statement today.
Anwar retains, however, other datukships awarded to him by states such as Perlis, Perak, Sabah, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Malacca and Pahang.
The statement added that the revocation of Anwar's title was in line with the Selangor Sultan's powers as enshrined in the 1959 state constitution.
“His (Anwar's) behaviour and action is not befitting of someone who deserves to hold this title,” Munir added.
Responding later, Anwar vowed to soldier on for Selangor despite the revocation of his title, and pointed out that he had never lobbied for the award in the first place.
Selangor protracted year-long leadership crisis ended in September when PKR deputy president Azmin Ali took over the MB post from his former political rival Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim ― who was forced out before serving out his five-year term.
