PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional's Selangor Mentri Besar candidate is expected to be from Bersatu, despite preferences for a PAS leader to take up the post.
Selangor Bersatu chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari claimed top coalition leaders had already decided that a Bersatu candidate should take the "lead" in Selangor, in response to PAS ulama chief Datuk Ahmad Yahya's support for Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi as the next mentri besar.
When contacted, Abdul Rashid revealed the matter was already agreed upon during a central meeting between Perikatan's top leaders, including PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
"During the meeting, the PAS president agreed that Bersatu should take the lead (as mentri besar) in Selangor.
"Tok Guru (Hadi) himself has agreed to this. So logically, it (the mentri besar's post) should be (filled by) a candidate from Bersatu," Abdul Rashid said.
As of now, there has been talk that only Selangor Perikatan chief and Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who was a previous mentri besar of the state, would be returning to the office.
Mohamed Azmin could not be contacted for comments.
Selangor Bersatu leaders have also remained tight-lipped on their preferred candidates for the post, following Perikatan's decision against headlining a "poster boy".
Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said the coalition will not announce its Selangor mentri besar candidates for the upcoming state polls despite having identified a list of names.
Abdul Rashid said the move was made to honour Selangor's state constitution, which says the Sultan of Selangor has the prerogative in making the appointment.
"That is why we do not have a 'poster boy'.
"If we manage to form the state government, it is up to the Sultan of Selangor to decide on who will be the next mentri besar. We will abide by the state constitution," he said.
Earlier, Ahmad said Dr Ahmad Yunus, who is both Kuala Langat MP and Sijangkang assemblyman, is qualified to serve as mentri besar.
He described Dr Ahmad Yunus as an asset to Selangor Perikatan and said he was "well-accepted" by the people.
"He did well in the elections. Generally, he has what it takes to be the mentri besar," Ahmad said.
