Dr Wan Azizah didn’t make the cut for MB, says Khalid

SHAH ALAM, Sept 22 — PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will not be the next Selangor mentri besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim confirmed today.

Khalid, who is due to be replaced by the Sultan of Selangor’s hand-picked candidate tomorrow, said he does not know who the ruler’s choice will be, but was privy to the nominees shortlisted for the post.

“Wan Azizah did not make the list, despite some of her people still hoping for that (to happen),” the outgoing mentri besar told Malay Mail Online in an exclusive interview.

“I will only know when the new MB signs the letter of appointment tomorrow.”

Khalid also said that the current state executive council line-up, currently made up of just four PAS state lawmakers - would be terminated the moment the new MB is sworn in.

Rumours are rife that Azmin Ali would be sworn in tomorrow, replacing outgoing MB Khalid.

PKR and the DAP had nominated just PKR president Dr Wan Azizah as MB, while PAS sent in an undisclosed list of candidates, which reportedly did not include Dr Wan Azizah.

Malay daily Berita Harian reported today that Azmin is expected to be sworn in as the new Selangor mentri besar tomorrow.

Citing unnamed sources, the paper reported that the Selangor palace had initially picked PAS’ Iskandar Samad for the post but the assemblyman turned down the offer, allegedly due to health reasons.

“The palace will only announce Azmin’s appointment tomorrow (today) through a press statement or a press conference with His Royal Highness’ consent,” the anonymous source was quoted as saying.
 “Then, the appointment of six new state executive councillors will be done on Friday, while the four executive councillors from PAS will be retained,” the source added.

English-language daily The Star reported Saturday that Azmin, as well as PAS state executive councillors Iskandar and Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi, were interviewed by the Selangor palace separately last week on their potential to be the next mentri besar.

Iskandar, who is Selangor PAS commissioner and Cempaka assemblyman, and Dr Ahmad Yunus, PAS’s Sijangkang assemblyman, were two of the three individuals named by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in the party’s list of potential mentri besar candidates to the Sultan.

PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said in a statement yesterday that Dr Wan Azizah remained the party’s sole MB nominee.