Pakatan vows to change Selangor law if gets enough majority

Selangor will amend the state constitution if it wins two-thirds of state seats, says political secretary to Selangor MB Faekah Husin. — Picture by Boo Su-Lyn

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 6 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will amend the Selangor constitution to regain powers of civil appointments if it wins two-thirds of the state assembly in the next elections, a senior leader has said.

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s political secretary Faekah Husin said the pledge to restore powers of appointment to the state and Sultan was a major part of PR’s campaign in Selangor, ahead of possible snap polls this year.

“To me, Umno just lost their momentum,” Faekah told The Malaysian Insider in an exclusive interview.

“They have been given a chance to say they are for the royalty, but they declined,” added the Selangor MB’s political secretary.

The Selangor state government failed to get the two-thirds majority required to amend Article 52(1) of the state constitution at the emergency state assembly sitting last Monday.

All 20 Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen present shot down the bill while all 34 PR representatives voted in favour of it. PR needed 38 votes to pass the amendments.

The amendment was aimed at allowing the Sultan, instead of the federal Public Service Commission (PSC), to appoint the state secretary, legal advisor and financial officer under the counsel of the mentri besar.

Selangor’s attempt to change the constitution was a bid to break the impasse over Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi’s appointment on January 1 as the new state secretary.

Khalid had rejected the former Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director, claiming that he was not informed of the appointment.

The Selangor MB, however, said last Thursday he will meet Khusrin tomorrow and later hold a joint press conference on the latter’s position.

Faekah also accused Umno of arbitrarily robbing powers of appointment over the state’s top civil servants from the state and the Sultan in 1993.

“Article 52(1) was amended in 1993. There was no reason to amend it at that time as it was about legal immunity then,” said the lawyer by profession.

“So, we will restore (to what it was before). It is a chance for us to go back to the people,” added Faekah.

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had removed the rulers’ legal immunity in the constitutional crisis in 1993.

Khalid announced last week that PR’s campaign to expose Umno’s “hypocrisy” would be held throughout the country.

Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar had said earlier the state opposition would tell their constituents that PKR had disrespected the Sultan and intended to steal the ruler’s powers.

But Faekah stressed that Umno’s decision to block the vote removed their right to express support for the monarchy.

“They are forever estopped, or prevented to claim that they are for the Malay rulers,” said Faekah, using the legal term “estopped” that refers to one being barred from asserting a claim inconsistent with a position he previously took.

The 46-year-old political secretary was confident that the PR campaign would draw voters.

“The public wants the state to be run professionally. People now are very intelligent,” said Faekah.

She also stressed that PR was not seeking to return absolute powers of appointment to the state.

“The main purpose is to stress the consultation between the three parties: the JPA (Public Service Department), the Sultan and the mentri besar,” said Faekah.

“No one shall act in veto,” she added.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan has claimed that the Selangor constitution did not require him to consult the state government when making such an appointment. - Malaysian Insider