PAS gave 3 names for Selangor MB, sec-gen now admits

(Malay Mail Online) – PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali has now confirmed his party submitted three names to the Selangor palace to consider as the next mentri besar, including one of its own assemblymen.

The politician had previously insisted that Islamist party was nominating only two people from PKR.

“So more than two names, at least three,” he told PAS-controlled paper, Harakah Daily today.

Mustafa said the names were sent yesterday directly from the office of its president to the ruler, and included three names because the Sultan had insisted for more than two names.

However, he refused to disclose the names of the trio.

“Let it be for the time being,” he was quoted saying on the daily’s website.

Earlier today, Mustafa denied rumours that his party had nominated Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and two PAS members as candidates for the Selangor mentri besar post when contacted by Malay Mail Online.

Sources told Malay Mail Online that the incumbent Selangor MB may have been among those nominated by the Islamist party in its list to the Selangor Sultan.

Last week, Mustafa confirmed that the PAS leadership will nominate two assemblymen from PKR for the post of Selangor mentri besar and none from among its own state lawmakers.

Mustafa also suggested that the two will likely be PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and deputy president Azmin Ali, despite a request from PAS Youth to nominate state deputy Speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

“We have not sent an official letter, so I do not want to pre-empt it. But more or less it will be the two,” Mustafa told Malay Mail Online on the phone, referring to Dr Wan Azizah and Azmin.

Mustafa also had clarified last week that the party would keep with its suggestion of two PKR assemblymen for the post.

In a previous report by Harakah Daily, Mustafa had also insisted that PAS will not be suggesting one of its own for the post.

The Star Online reported today that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had submitted the names of three of his party’s executive councillors in Selangor ― Iskandar Abdul Samad, Sallehin Mukhyi and Ahmad Yunus ― as candidates for the MB post.

PKR and DAP had insisted on PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the sole candidate, a decision which was agreed on in Pakatan Rakyat presidential council meeting on August 17.