PKR finally agrees to nominate three candidates for MB

(The Star) – PKR has finally nominated three candidates for the Selangor Mentri Besar post, weeks after insisting that Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should be the sole nominee.

Apart from Dr Wan Azizah, the two other nominees are PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Ijok assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad.

However, in a letter to be submitted to the Selangor Palace today, PKR allegedly insisted that Dr Wan Azizah should be selected because she commanded the most support.

The statutory declarations endorsed by 30 assemblymen in support of Dr Wan Azizah’s candidature were attached to the letter.

PKR’s political bureau deliberated the matter over two days, as its leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was adamant that his wife should be the sole nominee.

“Finally, we reached a consensus, and Anwar agreed to add two other names as requested by the Sultan provided we submit the 30 SDs to show Wan Azizah commanded the majority support,” said sources.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution confirmed that they reached a consensus but declined to reveal the content of the letter.

“The letter is from the party president to the Tuanku Sultan. It is not proper to reveal the content as even the Sultan has yet to receive it,” he said, confirming that the political bureau meeting was held two days in a row to discuss the matter.

Saifuddin said the letter would be hand-delivered to the Palace today.

He said they were responding to the letter from the Palace dated Sept 3, that was sent in response to PKR’s nomination letter submitted by the party on Sept 1.

PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu expressed regret that his party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had nominated three PAS leaders for the Mentri Besar post.

“The central committee had endorsed Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin as Mentri Besar nominees on Aug 17 and again on Aug 25. The president should not change the list without even informing us.

“I, as the deputy president, is still in the dark,” he said, responding to news report that Abdul Hadi had submitted three names from the Islamist party for the post.

“The development has drawn negative reaction against PAS as well as Pakatan Rakyat. I am not aware that Dr Wan Azizah’s name is not on the PAS’ list of nominees.

“PAS central committee is not made aware of this,” he said, adding that PAS should have submitted only two names – Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin.