PKR awaits Selangor palace reply before offering more MB hopefuls

PKR will wait for a reply from the Selangor palace before providing more names for the Selangor menteri besar post, after it sent a letter to the sultan yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic, September 10, 2014.PKR has refrained from submitting more nominees for the Selangor menteri besar post to the state palace, as it awaits a reply from the sultan, following a letter it sent yesterday, Malaysiakini reported.

The news portal said de facto PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had opted for this decision during last night's political bureau meeting.

The meeting was held after the sultan said he was extremely disappointed with PKR and DAP for defying the decree asking for each party to submit the names of three candidates.

"DAP and Keadilan's action reflects their insolence towards the royal institution and is treason towards the Selangor Sultan," said the statement issued by the Sultan's private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani.

On August 27, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had decreed that the three parties within Pakatan Rakyat submit more than two names, saying it was the palace's convention on the matter.

But, PKR and DAP had nominated only PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the top post, prompting the palace to reprimand both parties on September 3.

Islamist party PAS alone had deviated from Pakatan consensus and submitted three names, two from PKR and one from its own ranks, in a move that strained ties within the coalition.

Last night, PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic, right) said the letter was signed Dr Wan Azizah and had been submitted to the Palace.

Despite Saifuddin saying he did not know the contents of the letter, Malaysiakini reported otherwise, that Saifuddin and Anwar knew what was in it.

"It is learnt that it could be a reiteration of the apology issued yesterday to the palace and the explanation that PKR was adhering to convention in submitting a single name,” wrote Malaysiakini, adding that Anwar had also requested for an audience with the ruler.

DAP and PKR sought forgiveness from the Sultan yesterday and reiterated their loyalty to the palace.

But, Anwar insisted that his party's decision to propose only Dr Wan Azizah was in within the state's law and convention.

"Referring to the media statement by the Selangor palace media signed by the private secretary to the Sultan yesterday, we ask the Sultan's forgiveness if our decision to abide by the Selangor State Law and convention since 1957 offended the feelings of the sultan," Anwar said in a statement yesterday.

- TMI