Anwar Ibrahim has apologised to the Sultan of Selangor for his remarks on the appointment of the state’s new Menteri Besar.
The Opposition leader said, as reported in The Star, that his statements on the convention practised MB appointments were based on what he knew during his time in Barisan Nasional. Anwar had been with the government between 1982 and 1998, when he was sacked.
“I only said what I know to have happened during my time in the Barisan Nasional govenrment. If there was an error on my part, I apologise to the Selangor Sultan,” he was quoted as saying.
The report said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had reprimanded Anwar in a four-page letter issued by the palace telling him not to mislead the people and tarnish the Ruler’s reputation with his baseless statements.
The Star quoted the Ruler’s private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani as saying that Anwar’s statement was both inaccurate and confusing for the people.
“If Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim does not have accurate facts, he is advised not to make statements,” he said.
According to Munir, when BN ruled the state it was the prime minister that would present the names of several MB candidates to the Sultan. The Ruler would then pick one name.
The convention changed slightly during when Pakatan Rakyat took over.
This time, the Ruler called on leaders of all three parties – PKR, DAP and PAS – where a few names were recommended and discussed.
The Sultan then wrote to these leaders asking them for the names of two candidates, but all leaders had unanimously proposed now outgoing MB Khalid Ibrahim.
According to Munir, Khalid was appointed because he met all requirements in the state constitution.
He added that the palace – after the 2013 general elections – had once again written to PR leaders for names of candidates for the MB post as PKR president and Anwar’s wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail mentioned during campaigns that Khalid may not remain MB for long.
PR leaders however, Munir said, wrote back to the Sultan with Khalid’s name while the Ruler already had other names.
