Palace denies interfering with state government

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor palace today refuted allegations that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had meddled in the state administration, including the appointment of the new mentri besar (MB).
"His Royal Highness the Sultan has never interfered in state matters other than giving advice to the mentri besar," said the ruler's private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani in a media statement to refute claims by various quarters which alleged interference by the palace, especially in the appointment of the new MB.
He said the Sultan was fully aware that the appointment of the mentri besar was of utmost importance to ensure the smooth administration of the state, and it was his practice not to delay the matter.
"The delay in the appointment of the new MB was mainly due to the infighting within Parti Keadilan Rakyat, coupled with the contradictory stand of the Pakatan Rakyat component parties," Munir said.
"The unwillingness of DAP and PKR to nominate at least two names for the post, as per a letter from the palace dated Aug 27, further complicated matters, forcing the Sultan to consider other candidates from PKR who were not nominated," he added.
Munir said Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Mohamed Azmin Ali was selected for the post after the Sultan took into consideration certain important facts, such as:
- Azmin, as PKR deputy president, would not only gain the support of his own assemblymen but also those from the other Pakatan parties;
- the state government comprises Pakatan component parties; and
- the understanding that the MB is to be appointed from among the PKR assemblymen in Selangor to command majority support in the state assembly.
"With his appointment as MB, Sultan Sharafuddin hopes Azmin will be responsible, sincere and honest in carrying out his duties with the highest level of integrity, and always place the interests of the people of Selangor above everything else," Munir said.
Earlier in KLANG, Azmin was sworn in before Sultan Sharafuddin as the 15th mentri besar of Selangor at Istana Alam Shah.
He later signed the appointment letter witnessed by Shah Alam High Court Judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah.
His appointment as MB ended months of speculation as to who would succeed Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
Present to witness the ceremony was Azmin's wife Shamsidar Taharin, Selangor State Assembly Speaker Hannah Yeoh and four former PAS state executive councillors under Khalid's administration.
Khalid and the other state assemblymen were not present at the one-hour ceremony.
At a press conference later, Azmin said he would name a new state exco line-up by tomorrow.
He also said he would consider whether or not to reappoint PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as state economic adviser, after he was sacked from the post by Khalid yesterday.
Khalid was sacked from PKR on Aug 9 for refusing to step down as MB to make way for Anwar's wife, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who was the sole PKR and DAP nominee for the post.