Utusan Malaysia has branded Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as "raja nepotism" (king of nepotism) for insisting that his wife, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, be the next Selangor menteri besar.

The Umno-owned daily, under the pseudonym Awang Selamat, flayed Anwar for only insisting on Wan Azizah even though the Selangor palace has asked for more nominees to replace embattled Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

"Who is the raja? the Selangor sultan or Anwar?

"To Anwar, if he wants to act like a 'raja', Awang would like to give him the title of 'raja nepotism'," it said in Mingguan Malaysia , the daily's Sunday edition.

The daily said if Anwar was genuine about the rakyat's interest, he should be open to other candidates in PKR to be menteri besar.

"Are other PKR state assemblypersons not trustworthy or qualified in Anwar's eyes, as if they are only servants?" it added.

Utusan accused the opposition leader of wanting a "puppet" as the Selangor menteri besar for his personal interest.

The broadsheet said it would not be surprised if Anwar someday wanted his daughter, Nurul Izzah, who is also PKR vice-president, to take over the party from Wan Azizah.

The Selangor palace has asked for more than two names as possible menteri besar candidates even though Wan Azizah has secured majority support in the state assembly.

The palace gave Pakatan Rakyat until Sept 3 to decide but PKR has insisted that it would only submit Wan Azizah's name.