Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is legally Selangor Menteri Besar and can continue to carry out his duties and responsibilities, said the Selangor legal adviser.

Datuk Nik Suhaimi Nik Sulaiman said in a statement yesterday that Abdul Khalid is still entitled to carry out his responsibilities as a menteri besar despite the ongoing saga over his position.

Nik Suhaimi was responding to Klang MP Charles Santiago’s questioning of the legality of the agreement on the water restructuring deal, which Abdul Khalid is scheduled to sign with Putrajaya today.

Santiago had said in a statement on Wedneday that Abdul Khalid no longer commanded the support of the majority of the state assembly and is a caretaker MB.  And, as such, he should not be signing the water agreement or any other contract dealing with any of the state assets, the DAP lawmaker said.

Following Santiago’s objections, Nik Suhaimi said he had been instructed by the Sultan of Selangor’s office to clear the air.

“The Sultan of Selangor had appointed Abdul Khalid to administer the state, and the appointment was in line with state laws,” Nik Suhaimi said.

Therefore, he said, Abdul Khalid can continue to execute the duties, functions and responsibilities of a menteri besar with the full authority of his office. Nik Suhaimi said there were no doubts or questions over Abdul Khalid’s decisions, including the signing of the water restructuring deal with Putrajaya on behalf of Selangor.

“This issue has also been noted by Putrajaya and discussions and negotiations over the water deal are still ongoing.” Nik Suhaimi said Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had deferred accepting Abdul Khalid’s resignation letter to ensure a smooth transition of power.

“The Sultan of Selangor had taken that decision as he wanted to ensure that the administration of the state continued in an orderly manner.

“Although the Federal Constitution provides for the freedom of speech, the authority of the Sultan of Selangor should be respected and not questioned by any quarter,” he added. — The Malaysian Insider


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on September 12, 2014.

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