Anwar may run into royal roadblock, Noh Omar suggests
(MM) – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim might not gain the royal assent he needs if the federal opposition leader sets his sights on the Selangor mentri besar’s post, Selangor Umno state liaison chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar said today.
Noh added that such a scenario would then send the state into a constitutional crisis to determine which institution ― the state legislative assembly or the Sultan of Selangor ― would have the final word on the appointment of the mentri besar.
He predicted that an emergency motion will be table in the state assembly to appoint Anwar as the new Selangor MB if the federal opposition leader wins the Kajang state seat
“But if this happens, will the Sultan consent to this?” he asked, hinting that the Selangor palace may not give its nod to the PKR de facto chief taking over the state’s top post from Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
“A constitutional crisis will occur.”
In a speech at a seminar organised by the Ministry of Finance here, Noh also said another possibility was that PAS leader might be installed as MB if Anwar does not get the consent of the palace.
The Tanjung Karang MP added that if this happens, a “puppet” PAS MB who receives instructions from PKR and DAP will be put into place.
“We have to defend Selangor’s sovereignty!” Noh said, followed by cheers from the crowd of mostly Umno members and supporters.
On Thursday, former Bar Council chief Edmund Bon said a move to install Anwar in place of Khalid as MB risks causing the entire state assembly to be dissolved if the Sultan disagrees with the change.
Bon noted that Anwar also may not secure the support he needs from the state representatives as PKR has the fewest seats among the three PR parties while PAS has said it will propose its own candidate if Khalid is removed from office.
Today, former Court of Appeal judge Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah insisted that the state Ruler has “absolute power” to appoint a mentri besar of his choice.
In a surprise move on Monday, PKR’s Lee Chin Cheh resigned as Kajang assemblyman without giving a reason, paving the way for Anwar to contest the by-election.
The move came not long after media speculation that a state by-election would be triggered to pave the way for Anwar to become a member of the Selangor assembly and qualify to replace Khalid as MB.
While popular with the general public, Khalid’s penchant for unilateral decision-making in administering the country’s wealthiest state is understood to be a source of dissatisfaction among PR leaders in the state.
