Mohammed Khusrin Munawi’s appointment as Selangor state secretary could spawn a constitutional crisis unless the chief secretary to the government steps in to suspend the move.

teoh beng hock memorial night 160710 kit siang DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang (right) said the appointment , which took effect on Jan 1, is also damaging to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s “1Malaysia government” as it goes against the goal of building mutual respect and acceptance.

Lim said that, by not consulting the Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in appointing a new state secretary, chief secretary Sidek Hassan and the federal government have shown they are not fully committed to a truly 1Malaysia government.

Citing the 1Malaysia concept of inclusiveness and mutual respect promoted by Najib, Lim said Sidek should be more “mindful” that there should have been consultation with Khalid over the appointment, to strengthen “trust and cohesiveness” in federal-state relations.

“Sidek should defuse the ... crisis by suspending Khusrin’s appointment as state secretary and consulting Khalid on the most ideal appointee ... or Najib’s slogan of an inclusive 1Malaysia government would suffer another irreparable blow.

“A full-blown Selangor constitutional crisis over the appointment of the Selangor state secretary would be proof that Najib’s 1Malaysia concept is an empty slogan.”