Selangor Sultan: Khalid was so ‘so loyal’ as MB

PETALING JAYA: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah said that he could not believe it when Khalid Ibrahim was removed as the state’s menteri besar.

Telling The Star in an exclusive interview that he was tired of political intrigue, the sultan said Khalid was “so loyal”.

“I could not believe what was happening especially to Khalid. He was so loyal and suddenly he was kicked out.

“Maybe there was a hidden agenda, maybe I am not a politician and that is the kind of thing I do not understand,” he said in the interview in conjunction with his 72nd birthday tomorrow.

Sultan Sharafuddin described the removal of Khalid as the most challenging episode in Selangor politics.

He also said that gender was not the reason he had rejected PKR leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s nomination to replace Khalid as the state’s menteri besar.

“The reason I did not accept Wan Azizah is not because I think she is not qualified or that she is a woman.

“I have said it before – the menteri besar cannot be remote-controlled, he or she cannot be a puppet. You must have a strong character to do things for the rakyat.

“When I asked them to submit names, they sent in one name. That means they are twisting my arm.

“I have always asked for a few names from the previous government and they sometimes send up to three names but they list their priority. What is the big deal that they cannot send more than one name?”

Sultan Sharafuddin also denied that he had insisted that PAS should be kept in the state government.

“There was no directive from me. But I am not for a snap election, it is too disruptive and costly when what we should be doing is to develop the state for the people.

“So if they want to maintain the government until the next election, that is good. But after the general election, I do not know what will happen,” he was quoted as saying. -FMT