Selangor BN says amendment move a ‘futile’ effort

The opposition bench listens as Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim moves the motion to amend the constitution. — Picture by Jack Ooi

SHAH ALAM, Jan 24 — Selangor Opposition Leader Datuk Satim Diman called today’s emergency legislative assembly sitting to amend the state constitution a “futile” attempt, maintaining that Barisan Nasional (BN) will not support the amendments presented by the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.

The Seri Serdang state assemblyman, in his maiden speech as state opposition leader, blamed the state government for “politicising” Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi’s appointment as state secretary, saying that the Selangor Sultan had already consented to it.

“We will not support this amendment because we do not want his royal highness the Selangor Sultan to be manipulated by the Pakatan Rakyat government.

“This sitting need not be held, because the MB knows he won’t get the two-thirds majority needed to pass the amendments… 20 BN representatives and one independent assemblyman won’t support this, so isn’t this move futile?” said Satim today.

He also demanded an explanation as to why Selangor appointed two private legal advisers to draw up the amendments instead of referring to the state legal adviser, whose appointment had been “blessed” by the Selangor Sultan himself.

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