PETALING JAYA, Jan 23 — Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad derided Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi’s capability as Selangor’s top civil post, saying the govenment officer was not qualified to be state secretary.
The PAS central political bureau member claimed that the former Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) director was only capable of antagonising the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government.
“Khusrin does not deserve to hold his post,” Khalid (picture) told a 250-strong crowd at a public rally organised by the Respect the Voice of the People of Selangor (HSRS) movement today.
“Khusrin’s expertise is to catch ustaz (religious teachers), close down suraus, close down mosques, block ceramahs, and make press statements about Pakatan Rakyat allegedly committing treason. That is Khusrin’s only expertise,” he added.
The PAS MP’s attacks against Khusrin come as the Selangor government plans to amend the state constitution tomorrow to break the impasse over Khusrin’s appointment.
Khusrin is known to have clashed with the PR state government during his tenure as the Jais director.
In 2009, Khusrin had barred Khalid from preaching, claiming that the latter’s sermons were centred on politics instead of religious issues.
On Wednesday, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the amendment to the state constitution would restore the powers of appointment of the state’s senior civil servants to the state and the Sultan, who will then act on the advice of the mentri besar.
Selangor Umno deputy chairman Datuk Noh Omar has said the state opposition will reject the amendments.
But Khalid Ibrahim said tomorrow’s emergency state assembly sitting was aimed at heightening awareness over the federal government’s alleged robbing of the Selangor Sultan’s and the mentri besar’s powers to appoint the state secretary.
Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin (pic) branded Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi an Umno agent. – Pic by Jack Ooi
The Selangor government claimed that Khusrin’s appointment was invalid as the mentri besar had not been informed of the appointment.
Today, Khalid Samad accused Umno of attempting to sabotage the state through Khusrin’s appointment.
“I call on the people of Selangor to reject Khusrin and to amend the state constitution so that the rakyat’s powers are respected,” said Khalid to rousing applause.
He also claimed that Khusrin’s name was the last on a list of names recommended by the federal Public Service Commission.
“But this is the type of person that Umno wants to force onto the Selangor government,” said the PAS MP.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan has said the Selangor constitution did not require him to consult the state government when appointing the state secretary.
Former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin also fired salvos at Khusrin today.
“He is an Umno agent sent to wrest Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat,” Nizar told the crowd as the rain pelted down.
“The state secretary in Selangor and Perak are obedient to Putrajaya even though their allowances are paid by the state government,” he added.
The ousted Perak mentri besar called on the people at the rally to defend Selangor from falling to Barisan Nasional (BN).
“We will tell (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Najib Razak that you can do what you want in Perak, but you cannot take Selangor,” said the fiery PAS leader to loud cheers and claps.
“To destroy Umno’s villainy, I call on the people of Selangor to defend your rights,” he added.
Nizar was ousted from his post when three PR lawmakers turned independent and threw their support behind a BN government in February 2009, just 11 months after PR captured the state in Election 2008.
