The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has consented to the holding of a state assembly sitting on Jan 24.

NONEAccording to Bernama, the sultan's private secretary, Mohamad Munir Bani (left), today confirmed that Sultan Sharafuddin had on Jan 14, signed the proclamation for the sitting to be held following a request from the state legislative assembly authority.

Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had, before this, said that the proposed assembly sitting was for amending Article 52 of the Selangor State Constitution 1959.

The matter arose after the controversial appointment of former Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director Mohd Khusrin Munawi as state secretary by the BN federal government.

The Selangor administration said it had been sidelined in the decision to appoint Khusrin, who as Jais head was seen to have gone against the Pakatan Rakyat-led state government's policies on several matters.

NONEThe royal palace said it had consented to Khusrin's (right) appointment, which was done according to stipulations contained in the Selangor state constitution.

Some quarters, however, have argued that since amendements to the federal constitution in 1993, the powers of the rulers and menteris besar had been reduced, even in such matters as the appointment the state secretary, state financial officer and state legal adviser.

The proposed amendments to the state charter aim at returning those powers to the Selangor sultan and menteri besar.