PETALING JAYA: It has always been the convention to submit one name to the state ruler when appointing a menteri besar, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

During his time in office, said the former prime minister, he had never submitted more than one name and this had not been a problem with any of the state rulers.

“Perhaps times have changed and additional names have to be submitted,” Dr Mahathir said when asked to comment about the Selangor menteri besar crisis at a book launch he attended yesterday.

But, he said, PKR was being “annoying” in the present crisis and should not expect to receive any attention.

“If you have been an annoying presence, surely you do not expect anyone to pay attention to you,” he said, referring to the party’s role in the current impasse.

Dr Mahathir said the request for additional candidates was because the Selangor palace did not want a “remote-controlled” menteri besar.

“The Sultan of Selangor might want someone who will take care of the rakyat’s needs and develop the state to higher levels.”

Dr Mahathir had previously blamed PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the mess in Selangor.

“Anwar wants to become the prime minister, hence the Selangor menteri besar position is a stepping stone for him,” he had said. — The Malaysian Insider


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