'Reform constitution to avoid future MB crisis'

 

A day after Azmin Ali was sworn in as the new Selangor menteri besar following a protracted saga, a PKR leader has asked him to ensure that such a crisis does not recur.

To avert such situations in future, PKR supreme council member Gooi Hsiao Leung said Azmin must include "constitutional reform" on his list of important issues to tackle.

The Alor Setar MP said the state constitution must better define the role of constitutional monarchy in order to avoid "confusion" that has reigned during the crisis.

The Selangor Sultan, Sharafuddin Idris Shah, had exercised his "discretion" to appoint Azmin to the post, overlooking PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail even though the latter had displayed her majority from at least 30 assemblypersons in the 56-member state assembly in Selangor.

"The explanation put forward by the sultan’s private secretary on why Azmin Ali was selected instead of Wan Azizah does not hold any water whatsoever and is in fact a departure from the most fundamental constitutional principle- which is the majority in the state assembly," said Gooi.

"Furthermore, the manner in which the palace had been wrongfully advised in vetting potential MB candidates has also created public confusion as to the role of a constitutional monarchy as practiced in the Westminster parliamentary system," he added.

Gooi said that the serious question having been raised in the crisis is whether the MB is appointed by the sultan or the ruling party that is elected by the people.

"I urge the Pakatan Rakyat leadership, especially Azmin, to use his new role as the Selangor menteri besar, to initiate immediate constitutional reforms to avert another crisis in the future," he added.