Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email The TV3 news highlighted speech by Palace official who stressed that the Deputy must also be Muslim since he/she will assist the MB in Islamic events such as opening mosques, taking part in prayers etc. Either Theresa Kok converts or the change the person. However, it is always possible that the MB/DMB (if non muslim) to assign such religion-related obligations to a representative from the EXCO – maybe someone who holds the Religious Affairs portfolio. We have seen in cases where the PM assigns Maximum Ongkili for some Christian-related functions/events before.
As it is, only one deputy post is allowed by state constitution, so the requests to put Manoharan as DMB may not materialise.
But what upsets me more is that such rules still exist after 50 years of independence! Selection based purely on race is the cause of many dissatisfactions. People will question if the selected person is really qualified or not. The person’s capability will be questioned since the selectee will have an unfair advantage of being from certain race. The reasons given by the official is quite mundane, and can be rectified by sending representatives if religious events need presence of MB (who may be a non muslim).
For the common man, this may be seen as another form of discrimination and marginalisation. Something which is rightfully yours, but you can’t have it. Yeah, its an unfair world.
And Toyo said this is a developed state! 🙂
Khalid to take oath as S’gor MB tomorrow
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/79722
PKR secretary-general and Ijok state assemblyperson Khalid Ibrahim will be sworn in as the new Selangor menteri besar tomorrow. The ceremony will take place at 2pm at Istana Bukit Kayangan, Shah Alam. He is then expected to name his exco members in the next few days. While it has been known for some days now that Khalid will be the new menteri besar, the main problem faced by the PKR-DAP-PAS government-in-waiting has been the choice of the deputy menteri besar.
It has been agreed that a DAP candidate will be nominated, but the party seems to be undecided on its nominee. At the same time, there is also interest, especially from the Selangor palace, in seeing the post also going to a Malay. Earlier today, the Selangor Sultan’s private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani said state laws stipulate that only a Malay Muslim can be appointed as the menteri besar. Similarly, he added, it is preferable that the deputy menteri besar should also be a Malay Muslim.
JAG supports Kok
While Khalid deliberates on whom to appoint as his deputy, a gender equality action group has called for the appointment of Teresa Kok, the Kinrara state assemblyperson and Seputeh member of parliament, to the post. Although she herself is reluctant to comment on the issue, speculation is rife that Kok is a strong contender. She was even called in for an audience with the Sultan yesterday.
The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) today said that Kok’s appointment to the post would signal a new “era of equality and non-discrimination” in the highly industrialised state. JAG cited Kok’s experience and diplomacy in supporting her nomination, and also emphasised the need to increase women’s participation in higher-level politics.
“Apart from Teresa’s undeniable knowledge, experience and boundless energy which by itself should be the basis of her appointment as deputy mentri besar, her appointment would also make good some of the promises made by the component parties now forming the Selangor government,” added JAG in a statement.
Other DAP frontrunners
JAG also called on the now-ruling parties to make good their 1999 endorsement of its ‘Women’s Agenda for Change’ that included a 30 percent goal for women in key decision-making positions. “Teresa’s appointment will signal that the Selangor government is ready to embrace a new era […] of equality and non-discrimination,” said the group.
If appointed, Kok would be Malaysia’s first woman deputy mentri besar. In addition to being a state assemblyperson and MP, Kok is also expected to be a state exco member. When contacted, Kok refused to confirm if she had been selected by her party. Asked how she would balance four powerful positions, if appointed deputy MB, she referenced others who had juggled multiple responsibilities and said, “Why not?”
Other names on the shortlist for the deputy’s post from DAP are Ronnie Liu who won the Pandaraman state seat and Teng Chang Khim (Sungai Pinang). It is learnt that the party is still undecided on who to nominate despite intense discussions on the matter. The central leadership is believed to favour Kok.
Sultan’s constitutional role
Meanwhile, senior constitutional lawyer and former UN special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers Param Cumaraswamy said the Sultan has no constitutional power to call for the deputy mentri besar to be a Malay. “With respect, His Highness should not be seen reading into the constitution what is not there,” he said in a statement today. While the Selangor constitution provides for the appointment of deputy mentri besar by the Sultan, yet such appointment is actually to be made on the advice of the mentri besar from among the members of the state executive council, said Param.
After appointing the mentri besar, the Sultan will then appoint not more than 10 legislators from the state assembly, on the advice of the menteri besar, to the state executive council. “It is from among these 10 members of the executive council that the sultan will appoint a deputy mentri besar, again on the advice of the mentri besar,” he added.
Sultan of Selangor consents to coalition state government
By : V. Shankar Ganesh
source
SHAH ALAM, Wed:
The Sultan of Selangor has given his consent to Parti Keadilan Rakyat, DAP and Pas to form a coalition State Government. The parties can now chose a suitable candidate to be the new Menteri Besar. Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, private secretary to Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, said today the palace would soon announce the date for swearing-in ceremony. He said the Sultan met the representatives of the three parties because he wanted to personally hear from them their willingness to form a coalition state government.
In a Press conference at the State secretariat building here today, Munir said under the constitution, the Menteri Besar must be a Malay Muslim. However, he said the law was silent on the criteria of the deputy Menteri Besar. In his personal opinion, he said the deputy should also be a Malay Muslim as the person would be assisting the Menteri Besar on his duties during his absence.
The three party coalition won a total number of 36 seats out of 56 seats in Selangor. PKR won 15, DAP 13 and Pas eight seats. The coalition had earlier announced that PKR’s Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who won the Ijok state and Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary seats, will be the new Menteri Besar.
Khalid had met the Sultan on Monday to seek consent to form the state government but the sultan told him that he first needed to meet the representatives from the other parties. DAP’s Teresa Kok and Pas state commissioner Datuk Dr Hassan Ali then met the Sultan on Tuesday.
It was quite dissapointing to see private secretary to Sultan with unpleasant body language announced that it’s “advisable” (or in another word “MUST”) deputy mb to be Malay muslim as well.
The reason also does not justify – in case of the MB’s absence the deputy can officiate Masjid’s opening ceremony. I believe there must be some pressure to Sultan from BN to make such decision.
Perak regency made a good decision to make Pas Nizar as MB while allowing 2 deputies of other 2 races.
This is a major setback towards creating a multiracial political agenda….. sigh ;o(
it’s very sad we have constitutional hiccups for fair politics . When it comes to royal and constitution likely the non-malay party would lose . But , worth to give a go…..
In the event of failling for a non-malay deputy , perhaps DAP should demand for maximum(90-95%) exco members to be DAP members(chn/Indians) . We’d love to see Teresa,Sivanesa,M.Manoharan …etc in S’gor exco administration .