Ijok assemblyman slammed over claims S'gor MB doesn't have Pakatan support

PETALING JAYA: The Selangor Palace has slammed claims from Ijok assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad (pix) that newly minted Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, the former mentri besar, were both sworn in without the support of Pakatan Harapan's top brass.
In a Facebook statement, the palace stated that it received a letter on June 7 from PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail which contained the names of three candidates for the post.
"The letter dated June 7 by the PKR president had also indirectly cancelled out earlier letters by the heads of Selangor's political parties to His Majesty," the palace said in a statement today.
"After consideration of the list of candidates and upon speaking to the former mentri besar, the Sultan decided that Amirudin Shari would be the next mentri besar," read the statement.
"As a reference, the Sultan has discretionary powers in selecting the mentri besar as stated in the constitution," it stated.
Idris had also claimed at his press conference today that Azmin installed himself as the mentri besar after the May 9 polls without the support of Harapan leaders.
He said that there were rumours that he was supposed to take up the post instead of Azmin to which the palace also refuted, saying that the Pakatan Harapan leaders had all sent letters to the Sultan to support Azmin's nomination as mentri besar on May 11.
Azmin's nomination, the palace said, was due to him holding the post before the election, the dedication with which he carried out his duties, as well as leading Harapan to an even more comprehensive victory in the state.
"As such, it is inaccurate for the Ijok assemblyman to say that he was nominated to become the mentri besar.
"The Selangor palace always adheres to legal provisions and conventions in any action and does not interfere in political matters," it added.