MAKE SENSE? MB no longer the prerogative of the majority, power back to the Sultans

‘Is setting up a gov’t by the party which won no longer applicable?’

Kim Quek: It will be to the credit of the Selangor sultan to finally grant an audience to PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as it will demonstrate his respect for the spirit of democracy and convention, with which such appointments have always been made in this country.

After all, Wan Azizah, who is supported by the majority in the assembly, is the nominee of the ruling coalition, the person most eligible to be the MB of Selangor.

Ourvotesdecide: This is very bad and dangerous precedent indeed. The appointment of the PM can end up like this as well when and if Pakatan Rakyat wins Putrajaya in GE14 or in future elections.

May be Umno-BN already knew they would lose GE14 to Pakatan so that is why they now wants to start the precedent by giving the monarch power and discretion to personally interview and choose who should be appointed MB and next time, the PM of Malaysia.

The state constitution and federal constitution will soon become museum pieces.

Rick Teo: The appointment of the new MB has become a circus. It’s absolutely ridiculous that such an important appointment should be shrouded in secrecy.

The palace should take full blame for this because had it followed convention and the constitution, Azizah should have long been installed as the new MB.

Headhunter: Is selecting an MB no longer the prerogative of the majority who won their seats fairly?

If so, why bother with an election at all? Is the convention of setting up a state government by the party which won no longer applicable?

This is like a step backward and will have great implication in future at both state and federal levels. The people who elected the government are now powerless. This is a very dangerous trend.

Apa Nama: It is not surprising why this happened in Selangor, given the precedent set in Perak.

We see almost the same modus operandi, the palace was involved because one would hide behind the word ‘insolent’ or 'derhaka' in order to justify one’s actions even though it goes against state constitution.

I hope Penang is in safe hand. It helps that DAP has a strong majority there, leaving PAS, PKR and Umno Baru with a small number of seats.

Proarte: Appointing someone who does not have the support of the majority is contravening the state constitution which the sultan as a constitutional monarch is obliged to adhere to.

The sultan has no authority other than that granted to him by the constitution. If a PAS candidate is chosen, that would clearly be unconstitutional as the candidate does not have majority support.

If PKR deputy president Azmin Ali is chosen, that too would be unconstitutional as he has not been put forward as a candidate by Pakatan and he himself has given unequivocal support to Azizah.

If the sultan appoints anyone other than Azizah, it would be seen as unconstitutional and an arbitrary act which I fear will add to the crisis in the Selangor government.

Pakatan instability is Umno's intention as well as those in PAS, who are collaborating with Umno.

The rakyat demand that the monarch exercise his role in accordance to the constitution. Any arbitrary extra-constitutional actions by the Selangor sultan will sow the seeds of rebellion.

Quigonbond: I think PKR should hold its head high with dignity and let the sultan chooses whoever it is.

Eventually, everyone will need to meet at the state assembly. Just move for a no-confidence vote if they can't work with that appointee and proceed with the dissolution of the state assembly.

Pakatan should make a clear decision to break with PAS, and PKR and DAP can contest in all state seats (except the two held by the supportive PAS assemblyperson). Selangorians will support either PKR or DAP in the seats that PAS has won.

Democracy is a messy process. Worse when we only have a quasi-democracy. For those subverting the democratic process, there will eventually be a day of reckoning.

Disgusted: Why the cloak and dagger intrigue for choosing the MB? The state constitution clearly says the person who commands the support of majority in state assembly should be picked as MB.

What if the sultan chooses a nincompoop from PAS and is outvoted in the state assembly, do we continue the game of musical chairs until the ‘right’ person, according to the sultan, is found.

It looks like Umno will succeed in destroying Selangor state. If they don't get it back, they are willing to let it burn.

Bluemountains: It won't be Kak Wan. It won't be Azmin. It will be Cempaka state rep Iskandar Samad from PAS. But he will fall when the state assembly is convened.