Sultan ticks off MB Khalid, two state reps

The Selangor sultan said that it was “not appropriate” for Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim to have proceeded with selecting his own choice of state secretary after former Selangor Islamic Department head Mohamed Khusrin Munawi was appointed to the post.

“This action can lower the morale, credibility and integrity of the selected candidate as well as creating an uneasy atmosphere in the Selangor public service,” said the sultan in a statement signed by sultan’s private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani.

Explaining the process by which the sultan had conceded to the choice of Khusrin, Munir said the names of candidates for the post of state secretary had been proposed by the state Department of Public Service (JPA) on behalf of the Federal Public Service Commission (SPA) to the sultan "in his capacity as the chief executive of the Selangor government" (sic). 

"He (the sultan) indicated his choice of candidate. Following that, the candidate was agreed upon by the Federal Public Service Commission through a letter issued by the Department of Public Service and appointed according to Section (1) and 2(a) of Article 52 of the Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Selangor 1959 (state constitution).

"This has been the convention in Selangor," said the statement.

For these reasons, the ruler had instructed Khalid to discuss with the SPA and JPA about the state secretary’s candidate selection before it was finalised.

“He shouldn’t discuss the matter after the candidate had been given the sultan’s blessings and the post filled,” said the statement.

Sri Muda state assemblyperson rapped

On the MB’s plan to amend the state constitution to return the power to appoint the state secretary to the sultan, the sultan said that he had ordered the proposed bill be sent to him first for his review and consent.

The controversy erupted in Selangor when the SPA went ahead and appointed Khusrin as state secretary to replace the outgoing Ramli Mahmud without consulting the MB or state service commission.

PKR's Seri Muda state assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafie was quoted as saying the appointment of the state secretary was dependent on sections (1) and (1A) of Article 55 of the Selangor constitution.

Rebutting this, the sultan in the statement said his consent pertaining to the choice of candidate was not dependent on the said provisions. 

"For this reason, his (Shuhaimi) statement that the Selangor sultan was acting "beraja di mata, bersultan di hati" (arbitrarily) is extreme and can confuse the rakyat.

"His statement can be taken as being a warning to the Selangor sultan and an attempt to influence the rakyat into hating him."

Meanwhile, on the remark by DAP's Kampung Tunku assemblyperson Lau Weng San, the sultan said the former's remark that the state secretary cannot be appointed by the State Public Service Commission (Span) was mistaken.

"Though Span in other states can appoint the state secretary, in Selangor the power to appoint is carried about by the Federal Public Service Commission in accordance with with Undang-Undang Tubuh Kerajaan Selangor 1959.  

Yesterday, Khalid went to meet the sultan over the issue, which led to the ruler’s advice to the MB as revealed by Munir.

On moves to sideline Khusrin from important matters of state, the statement said the state secretary should be accorded the right to take part in state exco and assembly proceedings after he has taken his oath in front of the MB.  

Oath of loyalty

Meanwhile, according to Bernama, Khusrin will take his oath of loyalty to the Sultan as scheduled at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam this Thursday.

This is because Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah understands that the new state secretary had been appointed according to the procedure laid down under the Selangor constitution, Munir said today.

Khusrin's appointment violates founding principles