Johari said he was surprised PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had rejected nominees recommended by Azmin.

“I understand the selection of candidates for Selangor was done by Azmin himself.

“I think he is more competent since he would know who is better qualified to be a candidate,” he said at PPBM headquarters here.

PPBM and PKR are component parties of Pakatan Harapan, which also includes DAP and Amanah.

“I did not expect the president to reject all the names recommended, maybe just one or two. The president has the final say but I must make it clear I don’t have the full information.”

He was asked to comment on media reports that Wan Azizah had rejected several candidates recommended by Azmin, including Yaakob Sapari (for the Kota Anggerik state seat), Haniza Mohamed Talha (Taman Medan), Gan Pei Nei (Rawang), Mohd Razlan Jalaluddin (Kota Damansara) and Muhammad Hilman Idham (Gombak Setia).

Hilman is the special officer to the menteri besar.

Johari confirmed there was “some strain” in the discussions on PKR’s WhatsApp group on the candidates’ issue in Selangor.