Umno had ‘conspired’ to limit Sultan’s power

The Mentri Besar of Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has slammed Umno for having ‘conspired’ to limit the powers of the state’s Sultan in the past which is the reason why the state government is looking to amend the state constitution to restore the royal powers so that he can have a say in the appointment of top civil servants for the state. Khalid said that the BN (Barisan Nasional) federal government under the leadership of Tun Dr Mahahtir Mohamad had in the past made the amendments without first consulting the Conference of Rulers.

He said “Umno took advantage (in the past), conspired and stole the powers of the Sultan… the amendments suggested today are to ensure no one dares to go against the powers of the state or the Sultan. The BN federal government in 1983, led by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, had gone against the spirit of the federal constitution by making drastic constitutional amendments without consulting the Conference of Rulers. This is where it began… the planned erosion against the powers of the Sultans in this country. Government leaders had at the time made several amendments by tabling it in Parliament without prior consent from the Conference of Rulers. Amendments to Article 66(4) and (4a) of the federal constitution whereby a gazetted law becomes official after 30 days even without the consent of the Sultan. Pakatan Rakyat wants to return to the original provision of the state constitution where there is a consultative space for all,”