The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, consented to the appointment of PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali as the new menteri besar of Selangor because the ruler is confident Mohamed Azmin has the undivided support of the members of his party as well as PAS and DAP, said the sultan's private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani.

He also said the selection of Mohamed Azmin was due to the fact that PKR had the confidence of the majority of the Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen in the Selangor state legislative assembly.

"YB Tuan Mohamed Azmin is the PKR deputy president and, as such, His Royal Highness the Sultan of Selangor is confident that as an elected deputy president he must surely command the undivided support of PKR but also PAS and DAP which have formed a coalition to administer the Selangor state government.

"His Royal Highness has taken note of the fact that the Selangor menteri besar has to be appointed from among the state assemblymen from PKR to obtain the confidence and majority support of the Pakatan Rakyat parties in the Selangor Legislative Assembly," Mohamad Munir said in a statement today.

Mohamad Munir said the delay in the appointment of the menteri besar was due to the turmoil in PKR and the disagreement among the parties in the Pakatan Rakyat over the nominees for the post of menteri besar.

He also said the reluctance of the DAP and PKR to comply with a letter from the palace dated Aug 27, 2014, made it all the more difficult for the sultan to act, thus forcing the ruler to look at candidates from PKR not
nominated for the post.

"There had been remarks that the Sultan of Selangor had interfered in the state government administration, including the appointment of the menteri besar.

"It has to be clarified once again that the Sultan of Selangor has never interfered in the state government administration other than advise the Selangor menteri besar.

"In the appointment of the Selangor menteri besar, the Sultan of Selangor only acted in accordance with the provisions of the Selangor Constitution 1959," he said.

Mohamad Munir said the sultan hopes that Mohamed Azmin would be able to discharge his duties with full responsibility, honesty, sincerity and high integrity and would give preference to the interests of the people and state in his administration.

Mohamed Azmin was sworn-in as the 15th menteri besar of Selangor today at the Istana Alam Shah in Klang.