Selangor palace didn’t signal SDs insufficient for Dr Wan Azizah, says Anwar
Ida Lim, Malay Mail Online
PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is hopeful the Sultan of Selangor may yet meet Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail after having confirmed receipt of the statutory declarations (SDs) from 30 state lawmakers supporting her nomination to be the next mentri besar.
Anwar, the de facto leader of Pakatan Rakyat (PR), told reporters at the Duta court complex here today the sultan has not fixed a date for an audience with Dr Wan Azizah yet as requested, but has also not indicated that the SDs were “insufficient” to prove the Kajang representative now commanded the confidence of the majority of the state assembly.
“They have responded, they have recorded. I think Tuanku has to normally go through the process, meet MB first,” Anwar said, referring to the sultan by his title.
He explained that the state ruler would need to meet with the current Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim before meeting anyone else.
Anwar also pointed out that the palace did not inform the PR pact that its letter with the 30 SDs were not adequate.
“That letter is sufficient. As far as I understand, Istana did not suggest anything else. They just acknowledged receipt of the letter, nobody gave any indication that it’s insufficient,” he said.
Asked if the remaining 13 lawmakers from PAS needed to sign statutory declarations to support Dr Wan Azizah as Khalid’s replacement, Anwar said it was not necessary.
Although PAS had previously wanted to nominate two names, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali had said he was not prepared to take up the role, Anwar said.
The leaders of the three PR parties including DAP’s secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu and Anwar himself had subsequently agreed and signed to back Dr Wan Azizah as the sole candidate, he said.
“There was no decision on everybody having to file SDs.
“The legal team advised us that since 30 had been signed, that’s sufficient,” he added.
