PAS lists PKR president and deputy for Selangor MB post

(The Star) – PAS will submit two names despite pressure from PKR and DAP to nominate Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the sole candidate for the Selangor Mentri Besar post.

PAS is naming PKR president Dr Wan Azizah and her deputy Azmin Ali as the potential candidates, as today marks the deadline to submit names to the palace.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali confirmed that they would be submitting two names to the palace today.

“We are not holding any more meetings to discuss this,” he said, denying reports in the media that the party would submit three names.

Acting PAS deputy ulama chief Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed acknowledged that the grassroots wanted the party to also nominate a PAS candidate for the post.

“But we will only nominate potential candidates from PKR as we do not want to breach our promise to let PKR have the mentri besar seat, this time around.

“We have to keep to our promise,” he said.

Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had requested DAP, PKR and PAS to submit more than two names to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who had tendered his resignation as Selangor Mentri Besar last month.

The Sultan had put Khalid’s resignation on hold until a suitable candidate is appointed to the post.

Singapore-born Dr Wan Azizah’s qualification to hold the post has come under scrutiny, as naturalised citizens are not qualified to hold the mentri mesar post as stipulated under Article 53(3) of the Selangor Constitution.

The Sultan, however, has the power to waive any disqualification as stipulated under Article 53(4). The palace has also been reported to be not keen to appoint a “remote-controlled” mentri besar.

Meanwhile, DAP and PKR are adamant about nominating Dr Wan Azizah as the sole candidate for the job.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution confirmed that they had submitted a letter to the palace on Monday, but was tight-lipped when asked if they had provided alternative names.

“We have submitted the letter to the Selangor Sultan, but we do not want to disclose the content,” he said.

DAP national publicity secretary Tony Pua said they had submitted their letter to the palace yesterday, naming Dr Wan Azizah as the sole candidate.

“It will be Kak Wan only,” he added.