No good will come of defying Sultan, Selangor PAS tells Pakatan

(Malay Mail Online) – The local chapter of PAS today urged allies PKR and DAP to provide the Sultan of Selangor three nominees for the mentri besar’s post as instructed, warning that the crisis will be prolonged if they continue to resist the ruler.

Expressing regret that the refusal to accede to the Sultan’s request has now led to the ruler accusing the two parties of “treason”, Selangor PAS also said they needed to abide to the ruler’s request for the welfare of the state’s residents.

“PAS Selangor urges our partners to conform to the Sultan’s orders because we will not get anywhere if we go against the royalty.

“The longer the turmoil continues… the more troubled will be the citizens,” it added.

The Sultan of Selangor today said he will consider lawmakers beyond those nominated by PR to be mentri besar, after expressing displeasure over the failure of PKR and DAP to name more than three candidates for his consideration as requested.

His statement stressed that the request for more than two candidates to be submitted was by convention, to give the Sultan the option to choose a mentri besar based not only on majority support in the state legislative assembly but also by the candidate’s skills, experience, integrity and capabilities.

“The action of DAP and Keadilan is an insult to the Royal Institution and constitutes an act of treason against the Sultan of Selangor’s decree,” the statement said.

PKR and DAP both listed PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as their proposed candidate for mentri besar, despite the Sultan of Selangor having initially rejected the proposal on grounds that he would need more than two names for consideration.

PAS had initially submitted two names — Dr Wan Azizah and her deputy,  Azmin Ali — but their list has since been overtaken by a list of three undisclosed names personally submitted by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang late last week.