Selangor MB - Conflicting claims over number of names submitted

 

There are conflicting claims over the number of names submitted to the Selangor palace for the menteri besar post.

Pakatan Harapan insiders told Malaysiakini the list contains three names, which apart from incumbent Amirudin Shari (above, middle), includes Seri Setia assemblyperson Fahmi Ngah (above, right), who is perceived to be aligned to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

However, a source close to the prime minister told Malaysiakini that only one name was submitted but remained tightlipped on the identity.

According to Harapan sources, Amirudin’s former political aide Borhan Aman Shah (above, left) is also on the list. Borhan is in his second term as the assemblyperson for Tanjung Sepat.

Claiming there is nothing to read between the lines, the insiders told Malaysiakini the three names are to honour the ruler’s wish to have more than one candidate to choose as the next menteri besar.

A Selangor DAP source also confirmed that three names are on the list but added that Amirudin is emphasised as “Harapan’s first choice”.

“Selangor DAP is firmly behind Amirudin given his steady and decisive leadership in the state over the past five years,” said the party leader, who wished not to be named.

‘Leadership change plan’

Speculations have been rife that Harapan’s top leadership is planning to install a new menteri besar in Selangor despite Anwar naming Amirudin as the coalition’s pick ahead of the Aug 12 election.

The political grapevines claim that Fahmi, 48, who holds a doctorate in aeronautical engineering from Imperial College London, is one of the frontrunners.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (right) and purported Selangor menteri besar candidate Amirudin Shari

Last Saturday’s election - Amirudin’s first as caretaker menteri besar - witnessed Perikatan Nasional making significant inroads into Selangor, especially in terms of Malay votes.

In the latest battle, Amirudin defended the state against Selangor PN chief Azmin Ali, who was regarded as his mentor before the latter defected from PKR and Harapan in 2020.

Amirudin first became menteri besar in June 2018, taking over from Azmin, who was elevated to a cabinet post after Harapan won the national polls that year.

‘Anwar won’t take the risk’

Meanwhile, a Selangor Harapan leader, who spoke to Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity, confirmed there were talks about changing the menteri besar.

However, he did not believe Anwar or those aligned to him would be able to pull it off.

“Amirudin is too strong. I don’t think the prime minister can risk losing control of Selangor by putting in a weak menteri besar,” he said.

Since the election, Selangor is the only state among the six which is still without a menteri besar because the swearing-in ceremony was delayed due to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah undergoing a medical procedure overseas.

The ruler returned yesterday and the ceremony is expected to take place soon.

Istana Alam Shah in Klang, Selangor

In 2014, PKR initiated the infamous ‘Kajang Move’ to replace the then Selangor menteri besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

After Khalid resigned, the Selangor palace requested the three parties of Pakatan Rakyat, the then ruling coalition in Selangor and Harapan’s predecessor, to submit more than two names each for the menteri besar position.

Although PKR and DAP favoured then PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PAS, which was part of the coalition then, disagreed.

Ultimately, PKR shifted its support to Azmin and the ruler consented.

Down south, in Johor, Machap assemblyperson Onn Hafiz Ghazi was sworn-in as menteri besar after last year’s state polls despite BN submitting the name of the incumbent Hasni Mohammad to the palace. - Mkini