Speaker mum on amending Selangor constitution

Teng said the matter was between Khalid and him. — file pic

SHAH ALAM, Jan 3 — Selangor state assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim refused to comment today on Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s call for an emergency sitting to amend state laws to allow Selangor to appoint its own top civil servants.

Khalid’s Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government does not, however, have the necessary two-thirds majority as they only control 35 out of the 54 votes — including Teng’s — making it difficult to make amendments to enable the state ruler and the mentri besar have a say in top state civil posts.

“At this point of time, I do not want to comment on anything concerning the state secretary, I am not saying anything. The matter is between me and the MB, not with the media. I will talk when I am ready,” Teng told The Malaysian Insider.

Today, state ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah acknowledged the fact that he has no power in accepting or rejecting any appointments made by the Public Service Commission.

Khalid had revealed earlier today that the Sultan had agreed with the state government that previous amendments to the state constitution had effectively “transferred” all power of appointment of the state secretary to Putrajaya.

Khalid said that the proposed amendments to the state laws would “restore” the power of appointing the state’s top civil post back to the Sultan and mentri besar.

“His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor is of the view that he does not have the power to accept or reject any candidate suggested by the Public Service Commission.

“This is because the laws had been amended back in 1993, during the constitutional crisis; the state laws were amended and centralised to cement the federal government’s hold on the state,” Khalid told reporters.

The Selangor MB also said that there would be no swearing-in ceremony between newly-appointed State Secretary Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi and himself, adding that Mohd Khusrin will not be allowed to attend any exco or state economic council meetings without first taking the oath of secrecy.

“The state will suggest to the Speaker to hold an emergency state assembly sitting to amend the state constitution to return the power of appointment of the state secretary, financial officer and legal advisor to the Sultan and mentri besar,” Khalid said. - Malaysian Insider