Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said Pakatan has decided to carry on with the appointment of state legal advisers and will challenge any legal interpretation of the attorney-general (A-G), he said when asked by reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Earlier today de facto law minister Nazri Abdul Aziz claimed that based on the state constitutions of Kedah and Selangor it is the ruler who has the power to appoint, and said that Pakatan is trying to hijack the power of the sultans.

NONE "That is Nazri's interpretation, he has to defend the A-G but we are saying that the A-G has been grossly unjust," said Anwar ( right ).

"The state legal advisers are supposed to advise the state, they are not supposed to be lackeys of the A-G who is known to be biased and a stooge of the Umno-Barisan Nasional government.

"That's precisely the reason why Pakatan states have decided (to appoint their own legal advisers. There are instances where they were not performing his or her duties in accordance with the state constitution," he explained.

Responding to Nazri's claim that no complaints have ben made to the judicial commission, Anwar refuted this and protested that he had indeed made numerous complaints.

Putting state constitutions to the test

Anwar further reiterated that it is important to challenge and test the state constitutions in this area.

"Otherwise we will encounter these major problems where we find the state legal advisers are going their own way. Some are decent people but they sometimes perform under the instructions of the A-G," he added.

Anwar stressed that by appointing their own legal advisers, the state government can function much better as there will be more coherency between the state government departments.

"(Sometimes) the state goverment was not informed (of certain decisions) resulting losses to the state government. Legal advisers are now appointed on the recommendation of the A-G's chambers.

"We have no problem with civil servants but the problem is when they get clear instructions (from someone else). How then can we function as a state government?"