If only one has majority, other names not needed

comments     Yoursay     Published     Updated

YOURSAY ‘It does not make any sense for sultan to ask for more than one name.’

 

PKR receives letter from palace

 

Kim Quek: If it is true that the sultan replied by reiterating his requests for more than two nominees from each of the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat, none should comply with this extra-constitutional request.

 

It is the prerogative of the ruling coalition to decide who among its leaders should lead the state government. The sultan has no constitutional power to veto such a decision.

 

Obliging the sultan now would open the floodgate of palace interference into politics in general and, in this particular case, into the decision-making process of Pakatan in determining its nominee to replace outgoing MB Khalid Ibrahim, thus giving rise to perception of partaking in partisan politics.

 

This, if it comes to pass, would be a dangerous precedence that would lead to endless constitutional crisis, which would in turn endanger the system of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, which is the foundation of this nation, as clearly defined in our constitution.

 

Pemerhati: After the last elections when only Khalid’s (who had the majority support) name was submitted, the sultan acted constitutionally and appointed Khalid as the MB.

 

Now PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has the support of the majority of assemblymen and hence the sultan has no choice but to appoint her.

 

It does not make any sense for the sultan to ask for more than one name as the constitution does not allow the sultan to appoint anyone else who does not have the majority support.

 

If the sultan refuses to appoint Azizah as the MB without giving a valid reason stipulated in the constitutional, he would be acting unconstitutionally.

 

This would spark a constitutional crisis as it will mean that there is no point in having elections as the sultan is not going to appoint the person who has been selected by the majority of the people’s elected representatives.

 

Anonymous_40f4: Why the need to submit more than two names? Is it some kind of tender exercise where you choose the contractor offering the lowest price?

 

We hope all abide by the law and the constitution and not play politics. Otherwise, it will become a lawless country, manipulated by Umno Baru.

 

Victor Johan: In any group election or selection, only one person can have the majority, or be on equal votes, which can only occur if the total vote count is an even number.

 

As evident in the SD (statutory declaration), Wan Azizah has a vote of 30 out of the total of 56. HRH does not do selection, only appointment. And the appointment should be of the one person that commands the bigger majority.

 

Anything else will be deemed as interfering and meddling with matters for one's own desired aspiration.                 

 

Proarte: We have to be absolutely legalistic about this whole process otherwise it would undermine the constitution and the constitutional monarchy.

 

From my reading of the constitution, the sultan does not have the right to ask for other names when the majority in the House has nominated a single candidate Azizah, the Adun (state representative) for Kajang.

 

What is the rationale for the sultan requesting further names? Is the sultan going to go against the wishes of the majority assembly persons and circumvent the constitution? The sultan must understand that his power is granted to him by the constitution.

 

If he does not abide by the constitution, then he has no inherent authority and the rakyat are justified in 'pohon derkaha' because the sultan himself has not abided by the constitution. Let us earnestly hope that the rule of law will prevail.

 

Sleepy: If the palace wants more than two names, here are my candidates:

 

1) Wan Azizah (state clearly in letter that she has majority support)

 

2) PKR deputy president Azmin Ali

 

3) Another PKR Adun (state representative)

 

If other than Wan Azizah is chosen, go for a confidence motion in the state assembly, only if necessary. My objectives are two-fold - elect an MB from PKR and replace the present unpopular MB.

 

Peace: If the Selangor sultan is allowed to choose his favourite MB, then all other sultans and even Agong will ask to choose their MBs or PM next time. When will this end?

 

ConstitutionIsSupreme: I feel Pakatan can write with utmost respect to HRH (His Royal Highness) to explain why Kak Wan has been proposed as the only candidate.

 

In my opinion if HRH reject Kak Wan as the MB, it's better for Pakatan to dissolve the state assembly and go for snap election to prevent a crisis and preserve and protect parliamentary democracy and the constitutional monarchy.

 

Anonymous_1391570393: Let us all go for a solution, not create hindrance. Send three names each and accept the choice of the sultan. An election is unnecessary. Pakatan must not do things that risk losing the state to Umno.

 

Optimist: Pakatan, stick to the principle. Only the person commanding the majority support should be the MB, nothing less. Failing that, go for fresh elections.

 

Dood: Why is the palace so insistent on demanding something that it's not even entitled to, even after the decision has already been made?

 

Every day that this crisis drags on is another day that they are testing the patience of the people.


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