Nazri: Pakatan trying to hijack power of rulers
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz lambasted Pakatan Rakyat's recent decision to appoint its own legal advisers in the states it controls, hinting that it appeared to be an attempt to hijack the power of the sultans.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz lambasted Pakatan Rakyat's recent decision to appoint its own legal advisers in the states it controls, hinting that it appeared to be an attempt to hijack the power of the sultans.
"If they want to do that, they are trying to do the job of the sultan.
"The last time I heard, Kedah still has its own sultan. It is not Sultan Anwar Shah or what not," the minister told a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.
He said the constitutions of the states of Kedah and Selangor gave the rulers the power to appoint the state legal adviser.
But, Nazri added, he would engage with the executive of each state controlled by the opposition to find out their views on this matter.
"What is important is not the opposition leader but the menteris besar or chief ministers of the states controlled by Pakatan. I will get in touch with each of them and find out their say on this," he added.
The de-facto law minister claimed that Anwar Ibrahim's reasoning for proposing that Pakatan appoints its own state legal advisers not only went against the constitution of the states, but also spoke of the opposition leader's personal troubles.
"Maybe he wants to hire legal advisers who won't come out with advice that goes against his views.
"As we know, Anwar has problems with the law, and he always has problems with everyone. He can never make mistakes, only others can make mistakes," he added.
Nazri was responding to the announcement by Anwar on Tuesday that Pakatan would move to appoint its own lawyers to act as legal advisers because the "negligence" of federally-appointed legal advisers was causing problems in the administration of the opposition-ruled states.
