We are DISAPPOINTED with Selangor Sultan - PKR leaders express 'extreme regret’ at Azizah snub

KUALA LUMPUR - PKR leaders have expressed extreme regret over the treatment of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail by the Selangor palace, which they claimed went against the State Constitution.

They disagreed with the move, saying that the PKR president had garnered the support from 30 state assemblymen, satisfying the provisions required by the Selangor state constitution.

They said this in a statement following an emergency meeting by the party’s central leadership council (MPP) last night at its party headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

“MPP is disappointed with the treatment meeted out by the palace to the nomination of Dr Wan Azizah, who had the support of 30 assemblymen fulfilling the provisions of the Selangor state constitution,” they said.

PKR’s leadership also disagreed with the manner the Palace handled the nomination of Dr Wan Azizah.

“Thus, MPP is of the view that the appointment process of the new Selangor menteri besar did not follow the Selangor state constitution and goes against Parliamentary Democracy principles. It also has tarnished the institution of the Constitutional Monarchy.

However, MPP has also taken into account the need to resolve the issue involving the Selangor menteri besar as soon as possible to safeguard the interest of the rakyat, they said.

“Thus, MPP has decided to respect the request of Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to retract her nomination, so that the issue could be resolved immediately.

Following this, MPP also agreed with the suggestion proposed by Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail that Azmin Ali’s name is forwarded as a menteri besar candidate and that his nomination follows the party’s democratic procedures.

This is in line with MPP’s stand that the constitution’s dignity and the rule of law is paramount at all times. The MPP also said that this process, which did not follow the legal provisions should not be made as a precedence in the future.

In the statement, they also acknowledged that on Sept 22, the palace had issued a letter to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, that the sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharifuddin Idris Shah has appointed him as the new menteri besar of Selangor and he was also invited for an oath-taking ceremony on Sept 23. -NST