Sultan: Respect my decision

ROYAL PREROGATIVE: Johor Sultan says appointment of Tee to the state exco is to preserve unity of his subjects

 JOHOR BARU: THE sultan of Johor wants all parties to respect his decision and stop bickering over the appointment of Datuk Tee Siew Kiong as state executive councillor.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, in a statement issued by his private secretary Jaba Mohd Noah, said all parties, including MCA and other political parties' members, must respect the decision on the appointment and abstain from questioning his authority as the state ruler.

"Tee's appointment was the sultan's choice which is provided for under Phase 4 Section II of the Johor State Constitution 1895.

"Sultan Ibrahim appointed Tee as he wanted to have representation from all races in the state exco line-up. The sultan is neither required to seek any opinion or suggestion with regard to Tee's appointment, nor compelled to explain the basis behind Tee's appointment," said the statement.

"Whatever problem which occurred in the political party associated with Tee should not have become an issue. Although Tee is suspended by his own party, he remains a state executive councillor appointed by the sultan.

"Whatever action needed to be taken by his political party against him is entirely the prerogative and the power of the party and its leaders.

"The sultan will not interfere in the affairs of any political party and also does not want any political party to interfere in any matter pertaining to his role as a ruler."

The statement also said that Sultan Ibrahim's aspiration is clear, that is to preserve and strengthen the unity of his subjects in Johor.

In an immediate response, Tee thanked the ruler for the statement which served to clear the air surrounding his appointment.

"The truth has finally prevailed. This showed that whatever I had told the disciplinary committee during the inquiry was consistent with what was stated in the statement issued from the palace, that is my appointment was not recommended by the party.

"Hopefully, this will end all the bickering for the sake of party unity. I also wish that the MCA transformation task force will play its role in uniting the party through their road shows."

Tee has become the subject of criticisms after he was appointed as a state executive councillor on May 14. The Pulai Sebatang assemblyman heads the state Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee.

Party critics viewed his appointment as a violation of the resolution passed by the party that no member should take up any government post if the party performed worse than in 2008.

Critics had also cast suspicion over his appointment, saying that the sultan did not name Tee to take up the exco post.