MB accuses chief sec of sabotaging Selangor's pick
Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim kicked off the new year by firing a salvo at the chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan, describing his action in appointing Selangor’s new state secretary as “unconstitutional, irresponsible and unprofessional”.
Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim kicked off the new year by firing a salvo at the chief secretary to the government Mohd Sidek Hassan, describing his action in appointing Selangor’s new state secretary as “unconstitutional, irresponsible and unprofessional”. 
Mohd Sidek (left), who is head of the country’s civil servants, was accused of willfully ignoring Selangor’s selection process in choosing the best candidate to fill the state secretary’s post.
Controversial Selangor Islamic Religious Department chief Mohd Khusrin Munawi has recently been picked by Mohd Sidek as the new state secretary without first consulting with the menteri besar.
“In naming Khusrin, the chief secretary had disregarded the selection process which is in line with the civil service practice notes as prepared by the state civil service commission, which seeks advice from the public civil service at the federal level,” said Khalid in a statement today.
“The selection process requires the state civil service to propose candidates suitable for the position for the approval of the menteri besar, after which the names will then be presented to the DYMM Sultan of Selangor for consent.
“After securing the consent of the sultan, the state service will forward the name to the public civil service for appointment.”
Ticked off for willfully bypassing the MB
Khalid ticked Mohd Sidek off for not only bypassing the menteri besar in the appointment of Khusrin but for willfully disregarding the Selangor’s process to select the best candidate for the key post.
“The state had taken a step further by setting up a committee led by Selangor State Assembly speaker Teng Chang Kim to interview all eight candidates proposed by the state civil service commission,” explained Khalid.
“The committee had chosen three best candidates based on their merits apart from other necessary criteria needed to fill such a strategic and senior position.”
Malaysiakini has reported that Khusrin, 54, was ranked last among the candidates interviewed by the state-appointed panel in the search for a replacement for Ramli Mahmud, whose tenure ended yesterday.
Khalid slammed Mohd Sidek for sending out an unhealthy message to civil servants in the federal-state dispute over Khusrin - that merits and ability are not priorities in the promotion government servants, whom the menteri besar said are already facing criticisms for being ineffective and incompetent.
Despite disagreements over the appointment, the Selangor palace has sent out invitations for the swearing-in ceremony for the post, which will take place before Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah next Thursday.
