It was a sad day when Malaysians in Selangor allowed the Selangor Sultan decide that our next Menteri Besar of Selangor will not be Wan Azizah but shall be Azmin Ali...despite the fact that she 'had the support of the majority of the ADUNs'...
It was a sad day, when Pakatan Rakyat(PR) chose to let the Selangor Sultan decide who will be the Menteri Besar ...
Can we say that this was a 'victory to the Royalty...a defeat to the people' - Yes, the people's choice of MB was rejected, and we had no choice but to accept the Sultan's choice as MB - Azmin Ali...
“I did not approve Wan Azizah not because she is unworthy or because she is a woman....“I’ve said it before; the MB cannot be a puppet on a string, as the MB requires strong characteristics to seat at the helm,” the Sultan finally broke his silence, as quoted in The Star.
Remember, that according to our Federal Constitution, and reasonably our State 'Constitutions' as well, there are only THREE(3) situations where the King has absolute discretion(to do as he pleases), and in all other cases, he is required to act as advised by the Prime Minister(or some other party expressly stated)
40 Yang di-Pertuan Agong to act on advice.(Federal Constitution)
(2) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may act in his discretion in the performance of the following functions, that is to say:
(a) the appointment of a Prime Minister;and in any other case mentioned in this Constitution.
(b) the withholding of consent to a request for the dissolution of Parliament;
(c) the requisition of a meeting of the Conference of Rulers concerned solely with the privileges, position, honours and dignities of Their Royal Highnesses, and any action at such a meeting,
43 Cabinet.(Federal Constitution)
(2) The Cabinet shall be appointed as follows, that is to say:
(a) the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint as Perdana Menteri (Prime Minister) to preside over the Cabinet a member of the House of Representatives who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House; and
(b) he shall on the advice of the Prime Minister appoint other Menteri (Ministers) from among the members of either House of Parliament
As such, in our constitutional democracy, it is the PEOPLE(RAKYAT) that ultimately chooses the PM (and also the Menteri Besar), and the King/Sultan appoints, ever sensitive to the wishes of his subjects.
SADLY, in Selangor, the then Pakatan Rakyat let it go ...and did not fight for their chosen candidate for the position of Menteri Besar...
It looks like they simply submitted alternative names...and then Azmin Ali(not the 1st choice) became the Menteri Besar.
This time, on the issue of the appointment of the Attorney General, the Pakatan Harapan was much more 'stronger' - they just submitted one(1) name...and did not buckle into having to send more thn one names...or even alternative candidates. Dr Mahathir and the Pakatan Harapan were stronger...
When the ruler chooses someone not the choice of the people(reflected by the choice of the majority of the MPs and the ADUNs) in the appointment of Prime Minister, Menteri Besar and/or Chief Minister, then we have a problem...
As such, the 'convention' of submitting more than one name, for the ruler to choose is something that we may want to change...Certainly something that Malaysians need to start thinking about...after all Constitutions can always be amended - all that is required is a two third majority.
UMNO-BN did amend the Federal Constitution to reduce/restrict the powers of the King and/or royalty - also opening the possibility that the royalty could be made criminally liable. No one is above the law.
Previously, if the King did not give his 'royal assent' to a law passed by the Dewan Rakyat and the Senate, that law will not become law...now, even when the King does not assent, it becomes law...
66 Exercise of legislative power.(Federal Constitution)(4) The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall within thirty days after a Bill is presented to him assent to the Bill by causing the Public Seal to be affixed thereto.
(4A) If a Bill is not assented to by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong within the time specified in Clause (4), it shall become law at the expiration of the time specified in that Clause in the like manner as if he had assented thereto.
The 'Kajang Move', initiated by PKR(or was it the Pakatan Rakyat) was to put in a new ADUN, who would then be the new Menteri Besar of Selangor, replacing the then Menteri Besar. But after the incumbent ADUN resigned, and we got Wan Azizah in, the choice of the people was simply ignored. Right or not right?
The idea of giving the Sultan 3 names to choose from is also not reasonable..when BN won the last GE, did the BN present the King with 3 names for him to choose who would be PM? Did UMNO-BN submit just the name of Najib as their choice of PM, or did they give the King 3 names to choose from? Or when PH won GE14, did the PH present the King with 3 names - or was it simply just Mahathir?
For any MP to be Prime Minister, he needs to enjoy the confidence of the majority of the MPs - When a name is presented, of someone who has the support of the majority - the King appoints him Prime Minister, same should it be with a Sultan, he appoints the said ADUN who has the 'confidence of the majority' of ADUNs as the Menteri Besar...he does not turn around and say 'No'...she is a 'a
puppet on a string' or does not have a strong characteristics, so give me another name?
It was a sad day for Malaysians when Pakatan Rakyat(or the majority of ADUNs in Selangor) backed down and agreed to possibly a 2nd or 3rd choice candidate in Azmin Ali becoming the Menteri Besar...
When the Sultan rejected Wan Azizah, it was also a sad day for women - as, she would have been the 1st women Menteri Besar. Remember, that in a lot of Muslim majority countries, women have already become the Prime Ministers or President - Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Senegal ...We have yet to have a women Prime Minister, Menteri Besar or Chief Minister in Malaysia - maybe soon a woman Prime Minister?
Wondering about the reason why Anwar has been running round and meeting the Rulers all over Malaysia - is he trying to get into the 'good books' of the Royalty, for when it comes the time for his name to be forwarded as candidate for Prime Minister, the King and/or Conference of Rulers will not object? I seriously hope not...because the choice or PM,CM and MB must always lie with the people, and the Rulers, in their wisdom will always appoint the person who has the majority support of the peoples' representative. Anwar really should be spending more time cleaning up the 'mess' left by UMNO-BN and also working on proposed reforms...So much needs to be done fast, and there is so much to do...One does not have to be an MP, Senator or ADUN...or even in the Cabinet to do the needful for the good of Malaysia and Malaysians...
The Rulers - Najib, Apandi,...
Remember, Najib was appointed PM by our King, and Appandi Ali was likewise appointed Attorney General by the King. Now, did the King, the Rulers and/or the Conference of Rulers speak out [or speak out enough] their concerns about the alleged wrongdoings and/or 'kleptocracy' committed by Najib, Apandi Ali, etc...?
It is my hope that our King and Rulers, do more frequently speak out for the good of Malaysians...
It may also be pleasant if our King and Rulers think about sharing some of their personal wealth with the Malaysian people - possibly at this time, some donations to help the country out of its debts? Donations could be made to public fund to help Malaysia out of its financial predicament...
*** For the avoidance of doubt, this, as is the case of all my writings and posts, are merely personal opinions.
Selangor Sultan Reveals Why He Did Not Accept Wan Azizah As Selangor MB After The 'Kajang Move'
- Published on Monday, 11 December 2017 16:15
The infamous Kajang Move is seen as one
of the biggest conflict in the state of Selangor as it involves the
political tussle over the Menteri Besar seat, and put the role of the
state monarch in the spotlight.
In an interview in conjunction with his
72nd birthday celebrations, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah finally
revealed why he refused to approve Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim’s
candidacy for the hot seat.
The crisis was triggered by PKR in 2014,
with the initial aim to ‘appoint’ Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the
Selangor MB and simultaneously pushing Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim off the
seat.
The 'Kajang Move' was first set in
motion on 27 January 2014 with the resignation of the then-Kajang ADUN
Lee Chin Cheh, just eight months after the conclusion of the 13th
General Election (GE13) and therefore, permitting Anwar to compete in
the area.
However, Anwar’s subsequent jail
sentence resulted in him handing over his candidacy to his wife and the
Vice President of PKR Wan Azizah – whom later defeated the MCA Woman
Chief Datin Seri Chew Mei Fun.
Despite winning the ADUN seat, the
ambition to ‘place’ Wan Azizah on the Menteri Besar seat was put to an
abrupt stop after the Selangor Sultan refused to approve her candidacy.
“I did not approve Wan Azizah not because she is unworthy or because she is a woman.
“I’ve said it before; the MB cannot be a
puppet on a string, as the MB requires strong characteristics to seat
at the helm,” the Sultan finally broke his silence, as quoted in The Star.
The Sultan went on to elaborate that he
felt pressured as PKR insisted on only presenting him with one name,
whilst in the past all ruling state governments have complied with the
Sultan's request to propose several names.
“I’ve always asked for several names
from the state government, and sometimes they’ve graced with up to three
names and listed them according to preference.
“What is the problem in suggesting one more name for the seat?,” he asked.
Back then, Selangor was led by Pakatan
Rakyat, a coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS, with Khalid serving as the MB
until the Port Klang ADUN was sacked by PKR on 9 August 2014.
PKR and DAP later submitted Wan Azizah’s
name as the sole candidate as Selangor MB, while PAS respected the wish
of the Sultan by naming Datuk Seri Azmin Ali as the second candidate.
After their application was rejected
twice, PKR and DAP then agreed to nominate Azmin as the second candidate
– with Wan Azizah as their main candidate for the post.
Meanwhile, Sultan Sharafuddin described
Khalid’s exit as one of the most challenging incidents in Selangor
politics which he presided over, and stressed that he has grown tired of
the state politics, though praising Khalid for his loyalty.
“I cannot believe what had happened, especially to Khalid. He was immensely loyal, and was suddenly pushed out,” he relayed.
“Perhaps there is a hidden agenda, maybe
I am not well-versed in politics and the incident happens to be a
political incident that I fail to comprehend.”
Explain why Dr Wan Azizah can't be Selangor MB, PKR MP urges sultan
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22 ―
With rumours flying over the appointment of the next Selangor mentri
besar, the state ruler should explain his position in delaying granting
an audience to Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as a prospective
candidate when she holds the majority support of the assembly, PKR's
Sivarasa Rasiah said.
Pointing to the legal
precedent set by Perak in the appointment of a new mentri besar, the
lawyer and lawmaker asked if the sultan was being properly advised on
his role as a constitutional monarch in the matter.
"I appeal to HRH and his legal advisers to take into
account the clear interpretation placed upon the identical provision in
the Perak Constitution by the Federal Court in deciding who to appoint
as the next Selangor Menteri Besar.
"If
Wan Azizah is to be refused her appointment as the next Menteri Besar,
there ought to be at the very least an explanation of which provision of
the State Constitution is being invoked to prevent her from being
considered for the appointment and why," the Subang MP said in a
statement last night.
Sivarasa
pointed out that Selangor's constitution is "identical" to the Perak
constitution, which laid out the freedom for the state ruler to appoint a
person as mentri besar so long as the individual commands the
confidence of most of the elected represenatives at the time.
The PKR legal advisor
added that the country's highest court also upheld this political
principle when it ruled in favour of Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir as
the lawful Perak mentri besar in 2010.
Sivarasa said Dr Wan
Azizah has since shown she commands the support of 30 out of Selangor's
56-seat lawmaking house but has yet to be called for an interview with
the monarch even as anonymous sources claiming three of her fellow
Pakatan Rakyat (PR) representatives have been "interviewed" as
prospective candidates by the palace over the MB job.
The Sunday Star newspaper
reported yesterday that the three were PAS state executive councillors
Iskandar Samad and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, and Dr Wan Azizah’s deputy,
Azmin Ali.
PKR has remained adamant
that Dr Wan Azizah is the best choice for the MB post, as the PKR
president previously secured from 30 state lawmakers in the 56-seat
Selangor assembly.
The party has insisted
that this was clear proof that she commands the majority support among
the state’s elected representatives.
Another paper, Berita Harian reported today that Azmin is a shoo-in for the post after PAS's Iskandar declined, allegedly for health reasons.
But sources close to Azmin told Malay Mail Online
today that the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman has not received official
word from the palace to confirm his prospects as the next mentri
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