The Selangor government will not allow state secretary Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi (pix) to attend the state executive and economic council meetings as ex-officio.
Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said he will not witness Mohd Khusrin taking the oath of secrecy, which is necessary for the state secretary to sit in at these meetings.
The state government will convene an emergency state assembly meeting to amend the state constitution to return the power to appoint the state secretary, state financial officer and state legal adviser to the sultan and MB, Abdul Khalid said at a press conference today.
He said the state government will investigate the provisions of the laws to carry out these amendments. The whole process will take two to three weeks.
On the tasks that Mohd Khusrin would be able to carry out, Abdul Khalid said he would handle issues related to the district offices and land matters.
"There are other functions that the state secretary must carry out besides attending these meetings," he added.
However, he admitted that Mohd Khusrin’s appointment was legitimate as it was conducted by the Public Services Commission (PSC).
Prior to the press conference, Abdul Khalid sought an audience with Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, at 11am the Mestika Palace.
He said the sultan advised him to discuss the appointment of the state secretary with the PSC to resolve the matter.
"The sultan is of the view that he has no power to accept or reject the candidates proposed by the PSC," he said.
Abdul Khalid said the amendments made to the state constitution in 1993 reserved the "bulk of the power" to appoint the senior administrator to the federal government.
"The state government will write to the PSC to discuss again on the most deserving, suitable and talented candidates to fill the post," he added.
He said the state government will refrain from attending any ceremony or celebration related to the state secretary until the matter is resolved.
Abdul Khalid was also hesitant in confirming his attendance at Mohd Khusrin’s swearing-in ceremony at the palace on Thursday, saying he will consult the state executive council on whether to do so.
Last Monday, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan had announced that Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) director Mohd Khusrin would take over from Datuk Ramli Mahmud, 56, effective Jan 1.
He had said the appointments were consented to by the Sultan of Selangor on Dec 10.
Abdul Khalid had objected to the appointment, saying he was not advised on it.
