Palace gag on new MB’s identity until tomorrow, say sources

The Selangor emblem at the Istana Alam Shah in Klang, where the swearing-in ceremony for the new MB will take place tomorrow. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 22, 2014.

The identity of the new Selangor menteri besar will only be announced tomorrow, before the swearing-in ceremony at the Istana Alam Shah in Klang, sources say.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the announcement, initially expected today, has been postponed following a directive from the Selangor palace.

Meanwhile, Selangor Deputy Speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who met reporters at the palace today, said he was there to discuss matters related to the state assembly sitting scheduled in November.

It is understood that the full rehearsal of the ceremony will take place tonight, with the new MB expected to be present.

A palace source said the MB designate has yet to pick up his letter of appointment.

It was also learnt that tomorrow's swearing-in ceremony will be confined to official media only.

Speculation is rife that PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali will be sworn in to replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The media had descended on Azmin's house in Taman Tun Abdul Razak, Ampang and on PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya since this morning to get confirmation.

Khalid meanwhile will end his tenure by having a tea party and a press conference at the state secretariat building in Selangor this evening.

Elsewhere, The Star Online reported that PAS's Chempaka assemblyman Iskandar Abdul Samad will be appointed as deputy menteri besar.

Iskandar, together with Azmin and another PAS representative, Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, were reported to have had separate audiences with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah last week on their suitability for the state's top post.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli last week told The Malaysian Insider that if Dr Wan Azizah was not appointed as MB, the party would convene a meeting with PAS and DAP, as well as the 29 other Selangor assemblymen who had signed statutory declarations in support of her.

"We have to make a decision together once we have confirmation who is the next MB," he told The Malaysian Insider, adding that whoever the Sultan appointed should be according to procedures in the state constitution.

- TMI