Selangor state secretary Mohamad Khusrin Munawi has been urged to explain whether the Sultan was invited for the state Merdeka Day celebration.

NONE Khusrin ( left in picture ), who heads the organising committee for the event, was the best person to explain the matter, Selangor PAS Youth deputy chief Mohd Sany Hamzan, who made the call, said in a statement today.

"And should there be any mistake or negligence, we hope the state government, through the menteri besar, will apologise (to the palace) for the mistake," Mohd Sany said.

Mohd Sany was commenting on criticism of the state's decision to invite Anwar Ibrahim, as Selangor state economic adviser, as the guest of honour for the Aug 30 Merdeka Day eve event at Dataran Kemerdekaan, Shah Alam.

Among others, the Sultan's private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani questioned Anwar's appearance at the event.

"Why was Anwar invited to give a speech, when this was an official programme, not a political programme?" Mohamad Munir asked.

He was also quoted saying that the invitation to the palace for such an event was a matter of formality .

Yesterday, Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's political secretary Faekah Husin said it was not the norm for Selangor to invite the sultan for the Merdeka Day eve event.

Instead, the standard practice was for the sultan attend a tahlil and benediction event the following night.

Mohd Sany also accused Umno of masterminding the latest round of attacks against the Selangor government by using the palace.

"We urge Selangor Umno leaders not to be sycophants and use the name of the sultan to salvage their diminishing political status," he said.

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