Speaker: S'gor assembly sitting valid
Published: Jan 24, 2011 8:22 AM | Updated: Jan 24, 2011 8:24 AM
Selangor legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim maintained that today's special sitting of the assembly was valid in accordance with the state constitution and assembly standing orders.
Selangor legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim maintained that today's special sitting of the assembly was valid in accordance with the state constitution and assembly standing orders.
He said that though the notice was short of the required two weeks, the speaker could use his powers under Standing Orders 10 (3) usually cited at sittings of the legislative assemblies of the Commonwealth.
"If you feel it (the sitting) is not valid, please leave. Yes, it has to be a 14-day notice, but the speaker can endorse a certificate given by the government to convene this sitting.
"Going by Standing Orders 43 and 87, the decision of the speaker is final. But if you want to challenge it, you can table a motion," he said at the sitting.
The Pakatan Rakyat government of Selangor had called for the special sitting to amend the state constitution to "restore to the sultan and the state" the power to appoint the state's top three civil servants, namely the state secretary, the state legal advisor and the state financial officer.
The decision to amend the state constitution was made after the state government disputed the appointment of Mohamed Khusrin Munawi as the state secretary effective Jan 1 by the Public Service Commission without allegedly consulting Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
After giving his explanation, Teng told the house that the issue of whether the sitting was valid or otherwise had been settled and said the debate could proceed.
Earlier, Opposition leader Mohamad Satim Diman (BN-Sri Serdang) said the sitting was not valid because the notice of the meeting did not fulfil the 14-day requirement.
"We received the notice on Jan 11, 2011 when the bill was gazetted on Jan 18. By right, the notice should have been sent after Jan 18 and the sitting could have been convened only on Feb 2," he said.
Teng then asked Mohamad Satim to read and memorise the standing orders, saying that it would be embarrassing if he did not want to do either.
Mohamad Satim, who had been deputy speaker of the Selangor state assembly, said: "That's a lot of advice for having extended congratulations."
Mohamad Satim had congratulated Teng for having been conferred the 'Datuk' title recently by the sultan of Selangor.
"This is what I want. The speaker has to explain (whether the sitting is valid or otherwise). Those over there (backbenchers) do not understand as well," he said.
Teng, who had been opposition leader for several terms, asked Mohamad Satim to learn from him or Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo (BN-Sungai Panjang) who had stepped down as opposition leader because of a court case.
- Bernama
He said that though the notice was short of the required two weeks, the speaker could use his powers under Standing Orders 10 (3) usually cited at sittings of the legislative assemblies of the Commonwealth.
"If you feel it (the sitting) is not valid, please leave. Yes, it has to be a 14-day notice, but the speaker can endorse a certificate given by the government to convene this sitting.
"Going by Standing Orders 43 and 87, the decision of the speaker is final. But if you want to challenge it, you can table a motion," he said at the sitting.
The Pakatan Rakyat government of Selangor had called for the special sitting to amend the state constitution to "restore to the sultan and the state" the power to appoint the state's top three civil servants, namely the state secretary, the state legal advisor and the state financial officer.
The decision to amend the state constitution was made after the state government disputed the appointment of Mohamed Khusrin Munawi as the state secretary effective Jan 1 by the Public Service Commission without allegedly consulting Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.
After giving his explanation, Teng told the house that the issue of whether the sitting was valid or otherwise had been settled and said the debate could proceed.
Earlier, Opposition leader Mohamad Satim Diman (BN-Sri Serdang) said the sitting was not valid because the notice of the meeting did not fulfil the 14-day requirement.
"We received the notice on Jan 11, 2011 when the bill was gazetted on Jan 18. By right, the notice should have been sent after Jan 18 and the sitting could have been convened only on Feb 2," he said.
Teng then asked Mohamad Satim to read and memorise the standing orders, saying that it would be embarrassing if he did not want to do either.
Mohamad Satim, who had been deputy speaker of the Selangor state assembly, said: "That's a lot of advice for having extended congratulations."
Mohamad Satim had congratulated Teng for having been conferred the 'Datuk' title recently by the sultan of Selangor.
"This is what I want. The speaker has to explain (whether the sitting is valid or otherwise). Those over there (backbenchers) do not understand as well," he said.
Teng, who had been opposition leader for several terms, asked Mohamad Satim to learn from him or Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo (BN-Sungai Panjang) who had stepped down as opposition leader because of a court case.
- Bernama
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