your say'The MB should not be left a mere bystander, unaware, to key appointment processes and decisions. No amount of legalistic petty-fogging can change that.'

MB accuses chief sec of sabotaging Selangor's pick

Ibnu Suffian: Constitutions and their explicit words can only be read in the light of well-established constitutional conventions.

As leading scholars (such as Prof SA de Smith) have argued authoritatively, constitutional conventions need to be respected and upheld, scrupulously observed. They carry the same force as the explicit constitutional provisions whose operation they make possible.

A key such constitutional convention is that the head of an elected government must be consulted on, and has the right of refusing consent to, the making of senior administrative appointments, such as the head of the civil service that will give effect to his government's policies and decisions.

Such appointments cannot be conscionably made behind his back and that of his government, the people's elected representatives. He may not be left a mere bystander, unaware, to key appointment processes and decisions. No amount of legalistic petty-fogging, no recourse to dubious casuistry, can change that fact.

The former Selangor MB (Dr Mohd Khir Toyo) and all those who have rallied to defend the obstructive course of action that the political adversaries of the present government of Selangor have initiated should understand that basic point.

Yes, democracy can be sidelined, but only at a terrible cost. Who will be left standing there holding the bill when that heavy price comes to be paid, again and again? Not the former Selangor MB, who is now so generous with his legal advice.

Pemerhati: Mohd Sidek Hassan and the chief secretaries before him since Dr Mahathir Mohamad's premiership are experts in selecting the candidates that the Umno prime ministers of the day wish to have.

They in fact were the ones who were responsible for doing Umno's dirty work to carry out the ‘ethnic cleansing' of the public service, which saw the former efficient multiethnic workforce gradually replaced by a lot of incompetent Malays, even though much better non-Malays were readily available.

This has caused a catastrophic drop in standards in every field and people of the calibre of Abdul Razak Musa (MACC's chief prosecutor) now hold top government positions. In this instance, Sidek is doing something he and his predecessor have been doing since the 1980s - that is, degrading the public service by recruiting low calibre and useless officers to please their Umno masters.

Rolls-Royce: Do you think the Public Service Commission, the Public Service Department and the chief secretary of the government have the final say over key civil service appointments?

The federal constitution may have stipulated lots of things, but who really have been following the provisions since Merdeka? I expect Pakatan Rakyat to know this; not knowing this is not an excuse.

The Public Service Commission is nothing more than a eunuch long ago and the chief secretary is, as the name implies, the number one secretary of the government of the day. What do you expect him to do, not following the order? If he does not follow the order, that is also violating his duties and responsibility as the cabinet secretary.

Pakatan Rakyat has to be more serious and vigilant in guarding its power and responsibility.

Passing Cloud: It's sabotage - plain and simple. All those involved in making or supporting the decision are working in cahoots with Umno-led BN to destabilise and create trouble for the Pakatan-led Selangor government.

Such tactic may backfire on BN in the next general election. The people have had enough of such nonsense.

Anonymous: First, a tainted Umno leader appointed as chairman of Felda, now the least qualified civil servant among those interviewed. PM Najib, are you serious about your ‘People First, Performance Now' slogan?

Lim Chong Leong: Do not hide behind the constitution by splitting hairs of its provisions and stretching its meanings. The constitution can only be drafted from good common sense, which must prevail at the end of the day for it to hold water.

How can the state secretary be at odds with the MB? Good common sense dictates that the government cannot function without its state secretary carrying out the wishes of the MB and his exco.

Clearly, the act of the Najib Razak's government in engaging their own state secretary is in bad faith and indeed a sabotage not only against Khalid Ibrahim's government but also to all the people of Selangor, and by citing the constitution does not make it less a sabotage.

Ksn: It is shame all around. The chief secretary behaved unprofessionally and ungentlemanly and does no credit to the post he holds. The state should stand firm and reject this proposed SS (state secretary).

Anonymous: Khalid and co will have to put on their thinking caps and outfox BN here. They are up against Goliath and only clever strategy will see them through. As for the palace, it seems like it has BN plastered all over and so forget getting sympathies there.

If you can get 100,000 rakyat to protest the BN move, maybe there just a chance. Are you up to it, Khalid?
KJ John: That is what we get from a blind ‘Saya Yang Menurut Perintah' public services model which has been fostered for 53 years; and adequately rewarded for such idiocratic obedience. We must move towards the ‘Saya Yang Bertanggungjawab' (I who am responsible) model, at least in Selangor from now onwards. May God bless Malaysia and Selangor towards this process of renewal.

Mingxiang: "Stick and stones may break my bones but names can never hurt me."

You think you can shame them by calling them unprofessional and irresponsible? In fact, the chief secretary is grinning from ear to ear for doing you in, and on Friday they celebrated this mini 'coup' by declaring a public holiday - it has nothing to do with football.

Compass: This case is like nominating Ahmad Ismail as Dr Koh Tsu Koon's secretary.

 

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