PETALING JAYA: Azmin Ali will be sworn in as the new Selangor Mentri Besar today following the most intense and prolonged political infighting in the state’s history.
The PKR deputy president received the surat watikah (letter of appointment) from the palace at about 3.30pm yesterday.
This was confirmed by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, who signed the letter.
Azmin is coming in as the 15th MB of Selangor, taking over from Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim whom PKR expelled in a highly questionable manner last month.
His appointment will hopefully bring an end to the political crisis in Selangor that has rocked the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to the core.
The father of six, who turned 50 last month, is the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, Gombak MP and Selangor PKR chairman.
He studied in the United States where he obtained a Masters in Mathematics and Economics. He met his wife Shamsida Taharin there.
He was chosen from among two other shortlisted candidates, the others being Chempaka assemblyman Iskandar Samad and Sijangkang assemblyman Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi.
They were “interviewed” by the Sultan during separate audiences at the Palace to gauge their suitability for the post.
In what is seen as a departure from tradition, the Palace will make an official announcement before the swearing-in ceremony at 10.30am today and also issue a statement on the selection of Azmin.
Azmin spent most of yesterday at the PKR headquarters as news of his appointment broke out and his supporters flocked to the party premises.
The same evening, the party supreme council finally endorsed him for the MB post after an emergency meeting.
“I am thankful to the president and the entire leadership for unanimously nominating me for the mentri besar post,” he said after the meeting.
Azmin had also met Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim before the meeting to inform him about the surat watikah.
Anwar and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail put on a bright face when they emerged from the meeting.
Later in the evening, Dr Wan Azizah issued a statement saying that she accepted Azmin’s appointment with an open heart although she felt it was not in line with the state constitution.
Anwar and Azmin had earlier posed for the media, wearing big smiles, with their hands clasped together and surrounded by Azmin loyalists who included vice-president Shamsul Iskandar, deputy Youth chief Dr Afif Bahardin and supreme council member Azmizam Zaman Huri.
The party endorsement should also put to rest talk of a snap state election especially among the group who wanted Dr Wan Azizah for the job.
She had the backing of 30 Pakatan assemblymen who signed statutory declarations supporting her.
However, it is understood that five of them have since informed the Palace that they would support whoever the Sultan picked.
– The Star
