Agreement on new MB first, Sultan’s consent later, says Rafizi

By admin-s On Aug 8, 2014

(TMI) – PKR has yet to address the looming issue of the Sultan of Selangor’s consent in changing the menteri besar (MB), despite its entire “Kajang Move” hinging on the state ruler’s agreement.

The party’s strategy director Rafizi Ramli (pic) said that while it took into account the sultan’s role in the MB tussle, they only wanted to “cross the bridge when [they] get there”.

“Let’s not jump the gun. I think it’s a decision-making process. You cannot pre-empt it with too many uncertainties of what may and can happen,” he told reporters last night after speaking at a dinner programme with Ampang residents.

“Because there are endless permutations of what will happen with the palace and all, I think we’ll take it one step at a time and the stage we are at right now is the stage of getting all parties to agree on the menteri besar candidate.

“Then we go to the next stage to get the consent of the sultan. We are not there yet.”

PKR has nominated its president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, as the only candidate to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as the Selangor MB.

Should it secure the consensus of DAP and PAS, Dr Wan Azizah’s name will be brought to the Selangor Sultan, who, under Article 53 of the state constitution, has the prerogative to appoint the MB.

But Umno lawyer Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun last month said that as a woman, Dr Wan Azizah may not be suitable to become MB. He said a woman’s menses would prevent her from accompanying the sultan at religious functions.

If the Selangor Sultan rejects Dr Wan Azizah, PKR has no alternative candidate for the ruler to consider.