SHAH ALAM, 25 Feb 2009: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, is leaving it to Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to decide on the position of Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong whose intimate photographs were circulated recently.
The Sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani, said this was expressed by the Sultan when Khalid had an audience with the Ruler today.
Khalid had sought an audience to brief the Sultan about the political developments in the state and to get his advice on the issue involving Wong, who had offered to resign as both assemblyperson and state executive councillor because of the pictures.
“The Sultan has commanded me to announce that his Royal Highness could not offer any guidance or advice to the Menteri Besar in the matter related to Wong as it was still under police investigation and involved her political position.
“It is his stance as the Sultan of Selangor to be above politics,” Mohamad Munir said in a statement sent to Bernama today.
Sultan sympathises with Wong
Mohamad Munir said the Sultan believed that whatever decision by Khalid would be made with “accuracy, fairness and wisdom” by taking into consideration the interests of the people and the state.
“His Royal Highness is upset and worried as of late the intrusion of someone’s privacy and private rights is being used to destroy one’s dignity and reputation,” he added.
He said the Sultan was sad and sympathised with Wong for the unfortunate event that befell her and hoped that she would remain calm and be patient in continuing with her life.
The Sultan said it was a sad thing to have one’s life and private rights made public and subjected to public scrutiny through the mass media, he added.
Wong, 37, tendered her resignation as both assemblyperson and state exco to Khalid on 17 Feb.
She is now believed to be abroad and has reiterated her stand to resign from both positions despite advice from the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leadership to reconsider her decision while on leave.
Wong, who is Wanita PKR information chief, won the Bukit Lanjan state seat in the March 2008 general election after defeating Barisan Nasional’s Datin Paduka Yong Dai Ying with a 5,155-votes majority.
See also:
Eli Wong: Selangor Sultan’s full statement
S’gor MB to meet Sultan on 25 Feb over Wong issue
