Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim convened a special meeting with Selangor assemblypersons and parliamentarians today.

This was to brief them on the state's plans to call for a state assembly sitting, in order to amend the state constitution to return to the state and sultan the power to appoint the state secretary, financial officer and legal advisor.

However, when met after the two-hour meeting which was called last night, the MB confirmed that there will not be any motion of no-confidence moved against state secretary Mohammed Khusrin Munawi, who began work yesterday despite Pakatan Rakyat's protest.

NONE "The assembly sitting will take place by the fourth week of this month. We have three weeks to draft the amendment, " Abdul Khalid told the press after meeting which was attended by more than 40 Selangor Pakatan elected representatives from DAP, PAS and PKR.

Also in attendance was Pakatan-friendly PSM-Kota Damansara assemblyperson Nasir Hashim.

At the meeting Abdul Khalid briefed the representatives on the chronology of events pertaining to the controversial appointment of Khusrin, and what had taken place during his meeting with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yesterday

Abdul Khalid also clarified that while Khusrin's appointment is "legal", the state takes the position that it is not "legitimate" as long as he has not taken an oath of secrecy in front of the MB and the executive council.

He also challenged parties who claim that the move to stop Khusrin from taking the oath of secrecy as unconstitutional to take the matter to court.

He reiterated that the amendment is not merely to return the power of appointment to the sultan but to return to the spirit of the state constitution prior to the 1993 amendment, which states that "before acting on the recommendation of the Service Commission, (the sultan) shall consider the advice of the Menteri Besar."

'I didn't misconstrue sultan'

Abdul Khalid also refuted media reports implying that he may have misconstrued the sultan in saying that the ruler agreed that he has no power to reject or appoint the three top state civil servants.

"The sultan and I agree that he does not have the power to reject or appoint (the three top state civil officers) as this power was restricted by the amendment in 1993," he said.

He also added that he is not discussing to choose alternative candidates for the state secretary position, and is merely calling for an assembly to amend the constitution.

"I have also sent a letter to the chief secretary (Mohd Sidek Hassan) yesterday (seeking) to discuss the matter of the appointment of the state secretary (because) we want the matter to be resolved in order to allow the state some say in the appointment of top state administrators," Abdul Khalid said. 

'Unwise to consider other candidates'

Today, the sultan's private secretary Mohamad Munir Bani issued a statement saying that the ruler said that it would be unwise to consider other candidates when an appointment has been made as this would be demoralising for the newly-appointed person.

NONE Meanwhile Speaker Teng Chang Khim ( left ), also present today, said that there is still a good chance that the amendment will be put through despite Pakatan Rakyat holding less than two-thirds of the seats of the House.

"BN-Kuang assemblyperson Abdul Shukor Idrus has been reported by Beri ta Harian as saying that if the BN representatives agree with the amendments then they will support the motion," he said.

He also dismissed Selangor BN deputy chief Noh Omar's statement that BN will reject the motion as Noh "is not a member of the state assembly".