Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim attended the swearing-in of controversial state secretary Mohd Khusrin Munawi despite having hinted earlier that he may boycott the event.

NONEMembers of the state cabinet accompanied Khalid to the ceremony, where Khusrin was sworn in before Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at the Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam at 10.44am.

Khusrin, clad in black traditional Malay attire, was earlier seen standing in the Bilik Singgah Sana where the ceremony was held while palace officials busied with last-minute arrangements.

Apart from Khusrin, a number of other new appointees were sworn-in. They included the new head of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) Marzuki Hussin, 56, who replaces Khusrin.

NONEMeanwhile, former state secretary Ramli Mahmud was also sworn-in as a member of the Selangor Royal Council.

In addition, both Khusrin and Selangor police chief Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah were sworn in as members of Selangor Islamic Council.

Also taking part in the ceremony was former politician Lee Lam Thye, who was sworn-in as justice of peace along with two others.

Icy reception for Khalid

Among the 40 people seen in the ceremonial hall were members of the Selangor executive council Teresa Kok, Yaacob Sapari, Halimah Ali, Roziah Ismail, Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Ean Yong Hian Wah.

NONEKhalid was seated in the front row just two seats away from Khusrin to his left. The menteri besar had an icy handshake with his soon-to-be state secretary before taking his seat.

Both of them appeared sombre and had no interaction with each other throughout out the one-hour ceremony.

Journalists were told the sultan will give a speech, considered rare for such a ceremony, and the sultan's private secretary, Mohamad Munir Bani, will also give a press conference soon after to respond to the menteri besar’s remarks yesterday.

Meanwhile, Khalid is also expected to give a written statement after the ceremony.

Sultan expresses regret

azlanIn his speech the sultan expressed regret that the issue of the state secretary’s appointment has been politicised. He stressed that the matter should not be sensationalised lest it causes confusion amongst the people.

The list of appointees and awardees appearing before the sultan this morning were as follows.

Appointments: 

  1. Mohammed Khusrin Munawi – from State Islamic Department director to the new Selangor state secretary
  2. Ramli Mahmud – former Selangor state secretary to Royal Council member
  3. Marzuki Hussin – from Sabak Bernam district officer to the new State Islamic Department director
State Islamic Department council appointments:
  1. Mohammed Khusrin Munawi – new state secretary
  2. Tun Hissan Tun Hamzah – Selangor police chief
  3. Norhuda Roslan – Selangor Syariah Court registrar

Awards recipients:

  1. Justice of Peace Abu Bakar Abdul Hamid
  2. Lee Lam Thye
  3. Thamayanti Dewi Ampikaipakan

Khalid: We attended under protest