SHAH ALAM, 18 Sept: The Selangor Palace explained that the practice of asking for more than one candidate’s name for the position of Chief Minister has been the standard practice since the time of BN’s administration.
The Sultan of Selangor’s Private Secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, explained that during the BN administration, several candidates’ names were submitted by the Prime Minister in a ceremony to go before the Sultan and the Sultan of Selangor will choose a candidate who he deems fit.
He said that when PR won in 2008, the Sultan wrote a letter to the party leaders to propose two names, but they unanimously nominated Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
“Because he met the criteria and conditions to become Chief Minister, the Sultan of Selangor agreed to appoint Abdul Khalid.
“In 2013, because the PKR President, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, said that Abdul Khalid may not be re-elected, the Palace asked for four candidates’ names, however the party leaders recommended Abdul Khalid as the Chief Minister.
“The Sultan then consented as he had held the position before and has good relations with the Palace and the people,” he said in a press statement today.
Munir issued a statement to counter allegations that the PKR de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, allegedly sent only one name and that it was common practice since independence.
“Anwar’s statement is inaccurate and misleads the people.
“If Anwar did not have the facts right, he is advised to not issue statements that mislead the people and tarnish the image of the Sultan of Selangor,” he added.
Prior to this, the Sultan of Selangor asked each party to submit more than two names of Chief Minister candidates to replace Abdul Khalid who has postponed his resignation.
However, only PAS was compliant by sending three candidates’ names while PKR and DAP sent the name of a single candidate, Wan Azizah.
The move was deemed by the Palace as rude and rebellious. Both parties, however, asked for forgiveness for their lapse in behaviour which offended the Palace.
NS
