Assembly correct place for Hasan's gripes
Christine ChanPublished: Sep 25, 2009 9:57 AM | Updated: Sep 25, 2009 10:44 AM
By right Gombak Setia assemblyperson Dr Hasan Ali should have taken his criticisms of the committee investigating state government officers for various alleged misconduct to the Selangor State Assembly instead of airing them in public.
By right Gombak Setia assemblyperson Dr Hasan Ali should have taken his criticisms of the committee investigating state government officers for various alleged misconduct to the Selangor State Assembly instead of airing them in public.
In saying this, Dr Hasan's colleague in the State Executive Council Dr Xavier Jayakumar (left) pointed out that the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) is equivalent to parliament's Public Accounts Committee.
"So, legislators should not criticise its conduct in public.
"Since Selcat has been formed, if there are any suggestions, they have to be brought to the legislature. Further, civil servants have other avenues to express their grievances against Selcat, acting otherwise would be a cardinal sin," he said.
Jayakumar was responding to Hasan's criticism of Selcat and its methods of questioning district officers over the alleged spending of state allocations by Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons two months prior to the March general elections.
Methodology not authority questioned
Hasan, Pas commissioner for Selangor, had called for the revamping of Selcat when inquiries on the misappropriation of state allocations started, citing complaints from a district officer that he had felt harassed.
He suggested that the public inquiry be held behind closed doors instead of in public and be conducted by an independent committee instead.
Another exco member Ronnie Liu of the DAP offered an alternative view in the belief that Hasan was not questioning Selcat's authority but its methodology.
"The criticism of Selcat is not an issue of separation of powers because Hasan did not question the existence of Selcat but rather the manner in which Selcat questioned the district officers," he said.
However, he urged parties to refrain from further comments as the state government is conducting meetings with the concerned parties to resolve the issue.
Liu declined comment when asked whether Hasan outburst would destabilise Pakatan Rakyat.
Hasan's outburst was triggered by the complaint of Selangor district officer's Bakhtiar Husin that he was also embarrassed during the inquiry and accused Selcat members of seeking political mileage.
In saying this, Dr Hasan's colleague in the State Executive Council Dr Xavier Jayakumar (left) pointed out that the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) is equivalent to parliament's Public Accounts Committee. "So, legislators should not criticise its conduct in public.
"Since Selcat has been formed, if there are any suggestions, they have to be brought to the legislature. Further, civil servants have other avenues to express their grievances against Selcat, acting otherwise would be a cardinal sin," he said.
Jayakumar was responding to Hasan's criticism of Selcat and its methods of questioning district officers over the alleged spending of state allocations by Barisan Nasional state assemblypersons two months prior to the March general elections.
Methodology not authority questioned
Hasan, Pas commissioner for Selangor, had called for the revamping of Selcat when inquiries on the misappropriation of state allocations started, citing complaints from a district officer that he had felt harassed.
He suggested that the public inquiry be held behind closed doors instead of in public and be conducted by an independent committee instead.
Another exco member Ronnie Liu of the DAP offered an alternative view in the belief that Hasan was not questioning Selcat's authority but its methodology.
"The criticism of Selcat is not an issue of separation of powers because Hasan did not question the existence of Selcat but rather the manner in which Selcat questioned the district officers," he said.
However, he urged parties to refrain from further comments as the state government is conducting meetings with the concerned parties to resolve the issue.
Liu declined comment when asked whether Hasan outburst would destabilise Pakatan Rakyat.
Hasan's outburst was triggered by the complaint of Selangor district officer's Bakhtiar Husin that he was also embarrassed during the inquiry and accused Selcat members of seeking political mileage.
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