Between MB and SUK

In Malay, MB popularly stands for Menteri Besar, the title hold for the Head of Government in the Malay States. While SUK stands for Setiausaha Kerajaan, in Malay it means State Secretary. The crisis and odds between the MB and SUK of Selangor is the hot topic for January 2011. The State Secretary, unlike the post of Chief Minister, is the highest civil servant post in Malaysia. Meaning, SUK position is secured where unlike the Menteri Besar post, where every five years, they need to be re-elected in election to the post. Thus, some person noted that, the SUK can be more powerful than the Menteri Besar himself. The good relations between this two can make a nice duo, while and odds between the two, can possibly put the downfall of any one of them.

Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi, The new SUK of Selangor

(Picture from Harakah Daily)

It is all started when the Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA) appointed Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi as the new State Secretary of Selangor. Then, in December 27, the Press Secretariat of the Chief Minister Department announces that the appointment is not final as the Chief Minister of Selangor was never informed about it. Nevertheless, the appointment of Khusrin is legal by law and effectively starts in January 1. He is scheduled to sworn allegiance in front of the Sultan of Selangor on January 6 at Istana Bukit Kayangan. But, he still needs to take the Oath of Secrecy before the Chief Minister of Selangor, which he still failed to do so.

The Chief Minister’s Statement

The Chief Minister and Exco of Selangor during the Press Conference
(picture from Harakah Daily)

The Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim stated that, until there is no conclusive solution been made between the Selangor State Government and Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA), the state government will not entertain any ceremony or celebration regarding the State Secretary post. At the Press Conference, Khalid stated that the Sultan still not consent about the appointment of Khusrin as the new State Secretary. In addition, the Sultan has no rights to accept or rejected the appointment made by SPA as the power has been removed by State Constitutional Amendments in 1993. And the Sultan has proposed to the state government to make a discussion with SPA to find a conclusive solution.

Hence, until the discussion is made between the State Government and SPA, the State Secretary shall not be invited to any Exco Meetings and Selangor Economic Action Council as an ex-officio. There will be no Oath of Secrecy be taken before the Chief Minister for that matter.

At the same time, the State Government will also proposed to the Speaker of Selangor State Assembly Seating to hold a Special Session of the State Assembly for Constitutional Amendments to return the exclusive appointment power of three executives officials, The State Secretary, Financial Officer and Law Adviser to the Sultan and the Chief Minister.

The Sultan’s Authority

Meanwhile, the Private Secretary of Sultan of Selangor, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani has stated that the Sultan of Selangor, HRH Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah still retain its executives power to consent any appointment made by SPA including the State Secretary. Thus, any statement said that His Royal Highness does not have any power to approve and rejects are mainly a statement made by the Chief Minister of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

The Private Secretary also noted that, during the time when the Chief Minister meets an audience with the Sultan, the Sultan has asked him of why the State Government does not want to approve the appointment of Mohammed Khusrin as the new State Secretary. Nevertheless, the question has never been answered by Khalid.

Refferences ;

Harakah Daily

Utusan Harian