PKR’s reply to Sultan awaiting approval
(The Star) – PKR has drafted a letter replying to the Sultan of Selangor’s order for more names to be submitted for the mentri besar’s position.
No explanation will, however, be included in the letter to the palace on why PKR is adamant to send only its president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s name as its candidate for the job, said party secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
“Tuanku has asked for names of candidates and not for an explanation but we will include in the letter some related facts on the issue,” said Saifuddin.
The Sultan, in a letter issued by his private secretary on Aug 26, instructed PAS, PKR and DAP to submit more than two names each for the position by Wednesday.
Saifuddin said he had personally drafted the letter to the Sultan, which was now awaiting approval from the party leadership.
“There might be changes to the contents, but once approved, I will make arrangements for the letter to be sent to the palace,” he said.
PKR treasurer-general William Leong also said the decision to submit only Dr Wan Azizah’s name was in accordance with past practice.
“The palace had asked for a few names (after the last general election) but we only sent in one name and it was accepted,” he said.
He added Dr Wan Azizah also commanded majority support in the state legislative assembly with 30 out of the 56 assemblymen backing her.
Statutory declarations were signed by 13 PKR, 15 DAP and two PAS assemblymen guaranteeing Dr Wan Azizah their support.
The two PAS assemblymen – Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang) and Hasnul Baharuddin (Morib) – had broken ranks with their party by signing the statutory declaration.
The PAS leadership has declined to support only Dr Wan Azizah and said they would abide by the Sultan’s directive to provide more than one name to select a replacement for incumbent Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua could not be contacted, but in a statement on Aug 26, Pua and Saifuddin both maintained that their parties would only recommend Dr Wan Azizah’s name.
