I WISH to express my legal opinion on the power of a Sultan to appoint a mentri besar (MB). The Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power to appoint a prime minister and the Sultan’s discretion to appoint the MB is structured and limited by the federal and state constitutions. Does the Sultan have power to dissolve the Assembly on his own? But if the PM’s coalition also controls the majority in a State Assembly, then surely the PM’s coalition has the right to nominate the MB? However, the PM has no power to “appoint”, as that is the clear, constitutional function of the Sultan.

Source: The Star April 13, 2019 00:00 UTC