Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s foes hope to persuade the Selangor sultan that the menteri besar no longer has the majority support of Pakatan Rakyat, therefore he and his exco members must vacate their posts, said Zaid Ibrahim.

“They do not see the need for a debate or an explanation in the state assembly to help the people of Selangor understand the real reasons for their actions.

“Pakatan’s voters are just expected to follow. The fact that an elected government is about to be changed means little to these leaders,” he added in a blog posting today.

The former law minister said the Perak decision and Selangor plan are not only “morally repugnant and wrong”, they are also a distortion of the nation’s laws and an abuse of the democratic process.

“It’s a complete negation of the mandate of the people. To change an elected government is a serious business, even if it is being done by the majority party in power,” he added.

 

Pakatan leaders treated the Selangor state government and Khalid as MB, like their private property, said Zaid, adding that they behave as if they are free to do as they like, all in the name of democracy.

 

“They make no distinction between Khalid as a party man and Khalid as the MB of the state government.”

 

'Blatantly flouted'

Zaid, a former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said Pakatan's leaders had blatantly flouted established Westminster practice in parliamentary democracy.

 

He added the only difference in Selangor, with that of Perak is that Khalid ( left ) is being disposed by his own party, while for the silver state, the then MB was removed by the opposition political party.

 

In having the majority, Zaid said it did not mean you could do whatever you like.

 

“There is a world of difference between “party” and “government”, and for good reason. The chief minister or MB has a broader mandate and the support of the people.

 

“This stands separate from and far beyond the influence of his political party, or coalition of parties that nominated him. To remove him, you must be prepared to seek a fresh mandate from the voters.

"That’s the basic principle of democracy,” the former lawyer, who once ran the biggest law firm in Malaysia, said.

 

Going to the House is best

 

For this reason, Zaid said many constitutional experts argued that a vote of no confidence against an MB is the best deterrent for such abuse, as a vote in the assembly is like taking a major risk.

 

He said if the standing MB lost the vote, he is entitled to ask the ruler to call for a fresh mandate and the sultan is expected to dissolve the assembly paving way for fresh elections to be held.

“The consequence of removing a sitting MB is therefore far reaching, and that’s why it’s not done just because you want your wife to take the hot seat or you happen not to like the incumbent.

 

“Of course, those in favour of removing Khalid as MB gleefully point to the Perak precedent as the legal basis of their actions.

"The very episode which they rightfully condemned as a black day for democracy has now become their guiding star. That’s Malaysian politics for you,” he mocked.

 

Zaid further speculated on the possibility that PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim ( right ) might be acquitted by the Federal Court of Sodomy II.

In the event of that happening he said someone will then say its unIslamic to have a woman as MB, so they must now put Anwar as head of the state government.

“Selangor's game of political musical chairs will keep going, depending on the circumstance and mood of the Pakatan’s supreme leader,” said Zaid.

Selangor crisis today

11.14am: PAS exco member Sallehen Mukhyi says no need for MB Khalid Ibrahim to quit now.

12.25pm: Khalid cancels attendance at morning function at the last minute, prompting speculation that he was going to Budapest to meet the sultan

1pm: PAS' Sallehen maintains sultan is against Wan Azizah Ismail as MB

1.53pm: PAS central committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad says presiden Abdul Hadi Awang's absence at Pakatan meet ' not silent protest '

2:35pm: Sultan tells Khalid not to meet him overseas but wait for him to return on Aug 27

3.33pm: A group protests against Wan Azizah as MB, citing her gender, competence and origin

6.32pm: Law expert Aziz Bari says the palace is defying the constitution if it rejects Wan Azizah