Selangor MB crisis: PKR appears to be giving palace an ‘ultimatum’, says academic

(The Star) – The decision by PAS in not signing the statutory declarations endorsing PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the new Selangor mentri besar is due to convention, according to an academic.

National Council of Professors political cluster head Prof Datuk Dr Mohamed Mustafa Ishak Khalid said PAS’ decision was also probably because the Islamist party did not want to be seen as showing disrespect to the Selangor palace and Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

“Suggesting only Dr Wan Azizah’s name is like giving the Selangor palace an ultimatum that whether they like it or not, they have to agree to her being the mentri besar,’’ said Dr Mohamed Mustafa on Tuesday.

PAS had initially stated it would be backing incumbent Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim but withdrew support after PKR sacked him from the party.

However, the PAS leadership had directed its four executive councillors in the state – Iskandar Samad, Dr Halimah Ali, Sallehen Mukhyi and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi – to support Khalid in the running of the state.

Khalid was sacked from PKR earlier this month for refusing to resign and make way for Dr Wan Azizah to take over as mentri besar.

Dr Mohamed Mustafa said PKR’s and DAP’s stance of pushing Dr Wan Azizah as the new mentri besar blatantly disregarded the Sultan’s privilege and prerogative of having someone he is comfortable with as his mentri besar.

“Besides putting the palace in a very difficult position, they are also creating a constitutional crisis with their defiance of various protocols,’’ said Dr Mohamed Mustafa, adding that PAS has always been respectful of age-old practices involving the palace.

He said all this while the palaces and state Rulers have a role in the appointment of mentris besar in the country.

Dr Mohamed Mustafa added that PAS has been taken by surprise with the upheaval and uprising within its party over the matter.

Two PAS assemblymen Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) had gone against their party’s directive and signed statutory declarations supporting the PKR president.

“Anyway, their decision is too little too late as there are already 30 assemblymen, who have signed the statutory declarations in support of Dr Wan Azizah,’’ he said.

So far, 15 DAP, 13 PKR and two PAS assemblymen had signed statutory declarations supporting the appointment of Dr Wan Azizah as the new mentri besar.