Pakatan yet to decide on Selangor MB candidate, says Anwar
SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Harapan has yet to decide on the candidate for the Selangor menteri besar post, who will be sworn in on June 19.
PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the coalition had eligible candidates for the post.
“We have almost decided (on the candidate). We will hold further discussions and finalise our decision.
“There are tens of potential and qualified candidates. We have to decide on one,” he said after an audience with Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at Istana Bukit Kayangan here yesterday.
Asked if the new Selangor MB would come from PKR, Anwar said: “Of course it is open (to all PH component parties). But, the party that holds the majority in this case is PKR.”
He, however, declined to divulge names of the potential candidates.
It was reported previously that three names from PKR had been touted as possible replacement for the Selangor menteri besar’s post.
They are Sungai Tua assemblyman Amirudin Shari, Seri Setia assemblyman Dr Shaharuddin Badaruddin and Paya Jaras assemblyman Khairuddin Othman.
Anwar arrived at Istana Bukit Kayangan at 10am and left at 11.40am.
Present was Economic Affairs Minister and current Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Anwar described his audience with the ruler as a good meeting.
“It is good. I had an audience with the sultan. He is concerned with developments in Selangor and has given his assurance that the transition (of the MB post) will be smooth.
“He asked about my welfare and said he is happy that I am released.
“He expressed concern (over several issues). We will continue to contribute towards the wellbeing of Malaysia, and protect the national language and position of Islam.
“We also discussed the future of Selangor, developments and changes that could be made, as well as ways to ensure peace and harmony.”
Anwar, who was serving a fiveyear jail term after being convicted of sodomy in 2015, was granted a full pardon by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V on May 16.
The 70-year-old leader had since had a series of royal audiences.
On May 22, Anwar, accompanied by his daughter, Permatang Pauh member of parliament Nurul Izzah, had an audience with Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar at Istana Pasir Pelangi in Johor Baru.
Then, Anwar and his wife, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, were granted an audience by Kelantan Regent Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra at Istana Mahkota in Kota Baru on May 24.
On May 29, Pahang Regent Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah granted Anwar an audience at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
It was reported that Anwar met the sultans as a mark of appreciation for the royal pardon granted to him.