your say'Otherwise Putrajaya will always be at loggerheads with the state governments, especially if they are ruled by a different coalition from that of Putrajaya.'

MB: Emergency S'gor assembly sitting to be held

Ghkok: Now we're getting somewhere. So in 1993, the power to appoint the state secretary, financial advisor and legal advisor were taken away from the state and given to the federal government.

The right thing to do is for the state to take back that power. The state assembly better not screw up the constitutional amendment, and the excos better make sure that Mohd Khusrin Munawi doesn't do anything damaging.

The state of Selangor is definitely moving in the right direction. But since we are in an ‘emergency' situation, I think it's best to make a simple constitutional amendment to restore the powers of the state back to the original provisions.

Yobama: Only a dictator PM would want to usurp the powers of the states in the federation, and that dictator was/is Dr Mahathir Mohamad. From the beginning, it was not right to usurp this power.

The federal government should confine itself to defence matters, managing the nation's economy via the budget and monetary policies, and foreign affairs, and should leave the administration of the 13 states to their respective governments.

The sultans' powers of appointing major state civil servants should be restored immediately, otherwise the federal government will always be at loggerheads with the state governments, especially if the states are ruled by a different party/coalition from that of the federal government.

Rolls-Royce: Since Selangor is one of the most progressive states in Malaysia, may I suggest that amendments to the state constitution also include a clause on ‘confirmation hearing' by a select committee of state assembly members.

In other words, the MB, after consultation with the sultan, shall recommend the name but it is up to the select committee to confirm or reject the appointment. If the select committee does not agree with the recommendation, the MB and the sultan shall then recommend other names.

This is one way to prevent future concentration and abuse of power. I think the same principle shall apply to all key civil service appointments, both federal and states. Right now, I think the power is concentrated in the hand of too few individuals, which inevitably leads to cronyism and nepotism in the whole civil service.

I think we, the people, would like to know the character, values and policy orientation of key civil service personnel. Confirmation hearings would allow us to know more. We want reform; this is one reform I am recommending.

Anonymous: Khalid Ibrahim, you have contradicted yourself again. You say the appointment is legitimate, but it's you who is restricting the powers of the state secretary. If BN had done this, I bet you would be singing a different tune. Now you want to amend the constitution?

As you dig, the hole gets deeper and deeper. Eventually it is over your head and then you realise that you have no way of climbing out. Fooling around with the state constitution is a very risky business, especially for the sake of appointing your own civil servants.

Don't mess with the state constitution. You have four states, BN has the rest, and a new precedent has started.

Cinasami: Does that mean that if you don't agree with the situation, you just change the rules? This will back fire.

JBGUY: I hope the Selangor ruler will abide by the wishes of the majority of his subjects who have chosen Pakatan Rakyat over the BN candidates. As such, he should be supportive of the present MB and help chose a state secretary who can work with the state government.

Cala: How does one earn legitimacy (Williamson, 2000)? First, the ideology of any given society is built over a long period of time. As an example, the East is more respectful of their senior citizens. As another, a visitor must take out his shoes before entering a friend's house.

Similarly for Mohd Khusrin Munawi to work under Khalid Ibrahim, his appointment must be approved by the latter. Not to adhere to the customary practice is to allow an institutional change found on stilts.

As a matter of logic, any rule - formal or otherwise - must flow from past practices which are accepted by the people as they have evolved through time and hence earned the legitimacy as something deemed correct. No law can be enacted in void.

Passing Cloud: In the present raging controversy, the most pragmatic thing for the Selangor sultan to do is to cancel the swearing-in ceremony for the purportedly BN-backed state secretary Khusrin until it is finally resolved.

The sultan should avoid being sucked further into the BN-orchestrated power play apparently aimed at sabotaging and destabilising the Pakatan-led state government prior to the imminent 13th general election expected early this year.

Focus: Obstacle after obstacle. To convene an emergency state assembly meeting, the speaker will need to seek the sultan's consent. What more with the sultan's secretary who is bent on making things difficult for Khalid to seek an audience with the sultan.

What about the fact that Pakatan does not have two-thirds majority in the assembly to amend the constitution? Tell me, still want to play fair with your opponents who don't have the track-record of playing fair and square?

Tiga Abdul: Go ahead and amend the state constitution. If the state opposition asks for a two-thirds' majority to approve the amendment, get the state legal advisor to flip through the pages of the constitution and conclude that the amendment can be approved based on simple majority. Just follow the Perak constitution amendment carried out recently.

 

 

 

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