Selangor to use ‘law’ debacle to win two-thirds of assembly

By Boo Su-Lyn

January 27, 2011

Khalid: Now, the rakyat will know who are the hypocrites.

SHAH ALAM, Jan 27 — Selangor Pakatan Rakyat is set to campaign its failure to alter the state constitution, in order to gain two-thirds of the state seats in the next general election, said Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim today

The Selangor mentri besar said the effort to expose Umno’s “hypocrisy” would start during the Chinese New Year festive season.

“We will campaign throughout Malaysia for the spirit of federalism that will give justice to the state,” Khalid told reporters today.

“It is about the spirit of reformation that will give power back to the rakyat,” he added.

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 on Monday.

All 34 PR assemblymen voted in favour of the amendment while the 20 Barisan Nasional (BN) representatives present opposed it. The coalition needed 38 votes to pass the amendments.

If passed, the amendment would have allowed the Sultan — under the mentri besar’s counsel — to appoint the state secretary, legal adviser and financial officer instead of the federal Public Service Commission.

The proposed amendment was aimed at breaking the impasse over Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi’s appointment on January 1 as the new state secretary.

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

Khalid today expressed confidence that the PR campaign would attract young and well-educated voters.

“People always argued that Umno is the champion of the Malays and the sultanate,” said Khalid.

“But the truth is, it is not. Now, the rakyat will know who are the hypocrites,” he added.

Speculation is rife that snap polls will be held this year.

Selangor PR and BN politicians have labelled each other traitors to the royalty throughout the deadlock over Khusrin’s appointment.

Selangor Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar recently called Khalid a liar for claiming the state wanted to return powers to appoint senior officers to the Selangor Sultan.

He also said the state opposition would tell their constituents that PKR had disrespected the Sultan and intended to steal the ruler’s powers

In response, Khalid had accused Noh of attempting to “hide” the “evils” of the 1993 constitutional crisis.

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

Khalid said today the campaign was aimed at highlighting PR’s stand for democracy.

“We will show that people power is very important,” said the mentri besar. - Malaysian Insider