Selangor MB says Khusrin banned from all important state meetings

Khusrin has been banned from attending all important official meetings. — Picture by Jack Ooi

SHAH ALAM, Jan 3 — The Selangor government is set on making life for Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as difficult as possible by banning him from attending all important official meetings.

Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim revealed today that his administration will be writing an official letter to the Public Service Commission to discuss a replacement candidate for the top civil service post in the state.

He also confirmed that until any final decision was reached, the state would not be involved in any “functions or celebrations” which included the newly-minted state secretary.

“This means that the oath of secrecy ceremony in the front of the mentri besar will not be held. Datuk Mohd Khusrin will not be attending any weekly state government meetings or any state economic action meetings as an ex-officio,” Khalid told reporters today.

The Selangor MB also said that he will not be attending Khusrin’s his oath of loyalty at a palace ceremony this January 6.

Khusrin confirmed earlier today that he has begun his official duties despite a raging dispute between Putrajaya and Shah Alam over his appointment.

Khusrin had said that his first day at work was “problem-free” so far, and that the Selangor government did not object to him reporting for duty.

He had also refuted claims that his hotly-contested appointment was “politically-motivated,” saying he would carry out his duties despite direct opposition from the ruling state government over his appointment.

“All the accusations against me have been personal attacks. My appointment is legitimate, it’s just that what I have yet to do is to take an oath of secrecy in front of the Selangor MB,” said Khusrin today.

Khusrin also maintained that he would not budge from his post unless and until he received instructions from the federal government to do so.

“As long as there have been no orders on a federal level, I will remain as state secretary,” he said.

The country’s richest state has been in turmoil for the past week since the Chief Secretary to the Government named Khusrin to the post to replace outgoing State Secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud, whose last day of office was on Friday.

The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government has rejected Khusrin’s appointment and insists it has the right to name its own person for the job.

The conservative former director of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) has previously clashed with the PR state government.

The Sultan of Selangor had, prior to today’s meeting with Khalid, overrode the MB’s objection and approved Khusrin’s appointment.