An “explanation” must be put forth if PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is not chosen to be the next menteri besar of Selangor tomorrow, PKR’s Subang MP R Sivarasa said today.

Sivarasa said there must “at least” be an explanation as to what provision of the state constitution is being invoked to prevent Wan Azizah from being considered for appointment and the reasons behind it.

The Selangor palace will hold the swearing-in ceremony for the new menteri besar tomorrow, though the identity of the person remains unknown.

However, it is largely believed that Wan Azizah is not in the shortlist of candidates considered for the post.

Sivarasa, a lawyer, made his appeal to Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah to take into account a “clear interpretation” on the Perak constitution as to who can appoint a new menteri besar.

He quoted Court of Appeal president Raus Sharif’s decision in the Perak menteri besar legal battle between Nizar Jamaluddin and Zambry Abdul Kadir that while the sultan is at liberty to appoint a new menteri besar, the royalty must appoint someone who has the "command and confidence" of the majority in the state assembly.

“It is clear in this statement of the law that the majority support must be demonstrated at the time of appointment,” Sivarasa said.

Wan Azizah already has signed statutory declarations backing her as menteri besar from 30 assemblypersons in the the 56-member state assembly, thus demonstrating her majority.

Sivarasa said there are serious questions as to whether the monarch is being properly advised on the proper constitutional position.

“It is obvious on indisputable facts that none of the three candidates purportedly granted audience by the sultan so far have fulfilled the fundamental condition of majority support,” he said.

He was referring to reports that the sultan had interviewed three candidates for the menteri besar job - Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi and Iskandar Samad from PAS, and Azmin Ali from PKR.

Sivarasa pointed out that Wan Azizah, despite her display of majority, has yet to be granted an audience to explain her majority.

'Uncertain future'

Meanwhile, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin, also known as Chegubard, said that if an "unelected body" chooses the next menteri besar, the country's future will be uncertain.

 

He was backing a statement by electoral watchdog Bersih 2.0 yesterday which had issued a similar warning.

 

Chegubard ( right ) asserted that the crisis will now be a test for the "Reformasi-themed party" as to whether it will succumb to pressure in its efforts to defend the basis of democracy, which is the majority in the state assembly.

 

"The question of disloyalty (to the monarchy) does not arise because (former prime minister) Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself admitted he only ever sent one name to be considered as menteri besar," he said.

 

"Do not let years of battle go to waste," he added.

 

He said that while he supports constitutional monarchy, he also rejects "narrow feudalism" and "blind following".

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