RULER: KEEP STATUS QUO
Sultan Sharafuddin agrees to MB’s wish to retain 3 Pas reps in exco
SULAIMAN JAAFAR AND DAWN CHAN KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
PAS three executive councillors in the Selangor government will retain their posts. In a statement yesterday, Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said he agreed with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali that the state’s exco line-up be maintained.
The sultan said he was recently briefed by Azmin on the matter.
Selangor Pas commissioner Sallehen Mukhyi also had an audience with the sultan, accompanied by the three exco members — Iskandar Abdul Samad, Zaidy Abdul Talib and Ahmad Yunus Hairi.
“Sultan Sharafuddin was confident that the trust garnered by Azmin during his election as menteri besar in September 2014 still remains.
“After consideration, especially in terms of the stability of the Selangor state administration in ensuring the people’s welfare, Sultan Sharafuddin agreed with Azmin’s wish to retain the three Pas state assemblymen as Selangor executive councillors.
“This, he said, was until the date of the next general election,” read the statement.
Pas and PKR relations ended after the Islamic party decided to end its tahaluf siyasi or political co-operation at its muktamar in Kedah last month and this was endorsed by its Syura council recently.
Sultan Sharafuddin said the decision to maintain the status quo was made after taking into consideration the mandate given to the state government by the people of Selangor.
“Sultan Sharafuddin also urged all quarters to refrain from having negative speculations about the stability of the Selangor state government.
“He hoped that for the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, the rakyat, especially Muslims in Selangor, would focus their preparations in increasing faith in their religious duties and avoid involvement in slanderous activities.”
Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, in thanking the sultan for the decision, said it had always been the party’s stand that the mandate given by the people to its 15 state assemblymen in Selangor, of which two have since switched to Parti Amanah Negara, was until the 14the General Election.
Takiyuddin also said the party’s relationship with Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was different as it was a political one.
“In Kelantan, PKR members who were appointed to posts in the state government were retained and not sacked. However, if they chose to resign, then is a different matter,” he said.
In thanking the sultan, Sallehen in a statement said Pas adhered to a policy of putting the people first and ensuring the state’s political stability.
Sallehen added that since the people mandated the Pakatan Rakyat government in May 2013, Selangor Pas had been loyal and stood firm with all the menteri besars chosen by Sultan Sharafuddin, from Tan Seri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and now Azmin.
Meanwhile, Iskandar said he hoped the statement by Sultan Sharafuddin would put an end to speculation.
“The exco members can now focus on their responsibility to ensure that the welfare of the people of Selangor is being taken care of and the development of the state will continue unhindered,” he said.
Echoing Iskandar was Zaidy, who called for misperception and negative thoughts to end. Additional reporting by Aina Nasa