Foul!

As published in Malay Mail today HARESH SAYS By Haresh Deol SO what’s brewing in Selangor? Plenty. There’s the widely speculated rift between Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail ahead of the Sungai Besar by-election. Residents in Petaling Jaya are up in arms over the proposed construction of an elevated highway which has been dubbed Kidex 2.0. Football fans are disappointed the state team, the Red Giants, have turned into dwarfs in the M-League. It is understood the Selangor Ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has been keeping close tabs on the situation. PKR is experiencing yet another internal turmoil. It heightened after party secretary-general, Rafizi Ramli, lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and submitted evidence pertaining to allegation of graft and “requests for women” in dealings involving the state government. He was accompanied by several party members including Pa...

As published in Malay Mail today  Palace officials are unimpressed with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after he had written a letter seeking a meeting between his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah. The palace rejected the request, further denting Pakatan Rakyat’s plans of replacing Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim with Dr Wan Azizah as the Mentri Besar. “It is as though someone ill-advised him (Anwar) on the purpose. We seriously cannot believe he made that mistake. Protokol pun tak faham (He doesn’t even understand protocol),” the source close to the palace said. “With regards to the letter, it’s as though Anwar doesn’t want to meet Tuanku but must show he is trying to do so. But he knows he can’t be meeting Tuanku by making such a rookie mistake.” The Selangor palace received the letter on Sunday. Sultan Sharafuddin’s private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, said in a press statement yesterday the sultan had declined to me...

As published in Malay Mail today SHAH ALAM — The Selangor palace has yet to receive any request for a change in menteri besar and other potential candidates including Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, revealed sources close to the palace.   “The palace is not amused with certain individuals dropping names, claiming to have received Tuanku’s consent (to replace Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim with Wan Azizah).    “In fact, there has not been any official request to the palace for a new menteri besar.”   Another source said PKR was unable to name any other candidate besides Wan Azizah for the hot seat.   The sources revealed Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was “unhappy” with the turmoil in the state as PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail yesterday revealed Khalid was allegedly involved in dubious   business dealings.   Khalid immediately responded by challenging Saifuddin and the party to lodge reports and provide...

UPDATE April 6, 2013 (12.20am): Mere talk indeed as Anwar will defend Permatang Pauh after all, as reported in The Malay Mail . ---------- “Perhaps, it is just a signal or a strategy employed by Anwar (Ibrahim) to confuse our rivals. They tend to get overly excited whenever Anwar makes an announcement." Those were the words of PKR's Penang Youth Wing leader and PRK's Permatang Pauh Youth Wing leader Amir Ghazali. Throughout my conversation with Amir yesterday he mentioned "Kalau benar..." three times - referring to Anwar's plan of contesting in Perak. The PKR de factor leader is expected to make an announcement as to where he will contest during a 'ceramah' in Permatang Pauh tonight. Amir admitted Anwar's loyal supporters are slighted over the news. Read the sentiments of the folks in Permatang Pauh in The Malay Mail today. HD says: Hmm....