The Selangor sultan has denied reports over the delay in the finalising of the Selangor state executive council, saying that it was due to the state menteri besar’s leave of absence.

In a statement from the palace via the sultan’s private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani, the delay was said to be the result of MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim going abroad for medical treatment.

NONE “On May 20, His Royal Highness received a letter containing the list of names of the Selangor candidates from the menteri besar, when the latter was on leave overseas to receive medical treatment.

“The menteri besar only had an audience with the sultan to receive his input on Monday, May 26, after the former returned to the country,” added Mohamad Munir ( left ).

He stressed that the allegations by a certain Selangor MP that the delay had been caused by having to fulfil the sultan’s requirements was untrue.

“I therefore wish to have the cooperation of writers in websites and blogs not to drag the palace - particularly the sultan - into any matters without prior investigation, to avoid the people’s misunderstanding towards the sultan in particular, and to the palace in general,” he added.

NONE It is noted that on May 20, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad ( right ) said in a blog posting that the delay in finalising the exco list was allegedly in complying with the sultan's request to change the racial composition of the line-up.

On Monday, Abdul Khalid announced that Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has consented to the line-up for the 2013-18 term.

The exco members were sworn in this morning and their portfolios have been finalised as well.