Aide: Sultan confident Azmin has support of lawmakers

PETALING JAYA: Mentri Besar Azmin Ali was chosen by the Selangor palace because Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah is confident that he has the support of the majority of Selangor lawmakers.

The Ruler’s private secretary Da­­tuk Mohamad Munir Bani said the Sultan took into account Azmin’s position in his party when making the decision.

“The Sultan is confident that as the elected PKR deputy president, Azmin is certain to have the support of not only his party but also from DAP and PAS which form the coalition government in Selangor now,” said Mo­­hamad Munir in a statement.

Mohamad Munir said it was not a practice of the Sultan to delay the appointment of a mentri besar, which was an important position in the Selangor Government.

However, the situation that arose was the result of turmoil in PKR and disagreements in Pakatan Rakyat over the nomination of a new candidate.

He added that the reluctance of PKR and DAP to submit more names compounded the problem as the Sultan needed to consider other possible candidates from PKR who were not nominated.

Mohamad Munir denied claims the Sultan had interfered in the administration of state matters.

“I would like to reiterate that the Selangor Sultan had never interfered in the administration of the state government apart from advising the mentri besar,” he said.

He added that the Sultan had used his discretion as provided for under the Selangor Constitution to appoint the new mentri besar.