PKR gets royal dressing down
(NST) – SULTAN of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yesterday blamed PKR for forcibly removing former menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, and in the process, creating instability in the state.
The ruler, in a strongly worded speech at the swearing-in ceremony of the new state executive council members, laid the blame for the turmoil in the state squarely on Pakatan.
“The turmoil in Pakatan began with PKR’s ‘Kajang Move’ and their efforts to oust Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar.
“The appointment of the new excos is because PKR and DAP have lost faith in Khalid,” he said.
The sultan said the move was followed through with a sustained campaign of slander and accusations to tarnish Khalid’s reputation, giving Khalid no other option but to step down.
The “Kajang Move” was initiated by PKR to replace Khalid with its de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim through a self-engineered by-election in March.
The party, however, modified the plan after Anwar’s sodomy conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal by placing his wife and PKR president, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The move was opposed by Pas and triggered a crisis within Pakatan, culminating in PKR and DAP being rebuked by the palace after they insisted on nominating only Dr Wan Azizah as menteri besar instead of giving three names as decreed by the ruler.
PKR was again chastised by the palace after Anwar responded that the party was observing a convention when it submitted only one candidate for the menteri besar’s post.
The party’s leadership had also continuously expressed their unhappiness with the palace, the latest on Monday, when Dr Wan Azizah said the appointment of Mohamed Azmin Ali as menteri besar was against the Selangor constitution.
The sultan, in his speech, admonished Pakatan members for continuing to “agitate” the people and spreading false accusations against Khalid, even during Ramadan, despite his repeated reminders for everyone to preserve the sanctity of the holy month.
The sultan thanked Khalid for his sterling performance in governing the state and for maintaining a good and cordial relationship with the palace.
“Politicians come and go. They will serve for five years and may be replaced in the next election. But my position as the sultan who rules Selangor will continue for as long as I live.”
He said he had never interfered in the state’s administration and would only advise the menteri besar to ensure that the rakyat’s interests were protected.
“I want to reiterate that a sultan’s role is not just ceremonial and limited to official functions. Because the people do not have a proper understanding of the functions of the sultan, they assume that the royal institution is merely a symbol without any real role or power under the state’s constitution.”
He said there were politicians who did not understand the role of the ruler or pretended not to and he was convinced these people had their own agenda.
The sultan also advised the newly-sworn excos to give their full support and cooperation to the new menteri besar.
“Put aside your differences and serve the rakyat. Focus on combining your resources, energy, expertise and experience to serve the rakyat.”
