Lee comes to Selcat’s defence

By Pauline Almeida
www.mmail.com.my/content/13839-lee-comes-selcat%E2%80%99s-defence

ANOTHER member of Selangor’s special select committee for competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) has spoken up in defence of the body that was set up to ensure good governance by the State government.

Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee Poh Lin, who sits on Selcat’s seven-member panel, is of the view that the body should continue to function the way it has all this while.

He also expressed support for Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s recent statement that the State’s legislature could not undermine Selcat with an independent group, as it was not within the framework of the legislative assembly.

“We should follow what he has instructed us to do and support what Selcat is doing,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Lee was expressing his views on State Exco member and Pas commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali’s suggestion that Selcat be replaced with an independent committee comprising prominent people without political leanings.

Hasan made the call as he felt Selcat members were employing overly tough questioning tactics that were victimising State and district civil servants.

He had called for Selcat sessions to be held behind closed doors instead of making it public.

Lee confirmed that the district officers were being questioned and the Selcat panel had been conducting this process with civility and politeness.

“We don’t think we were unusually harsh, but the facts can be harsh. How else can we do it without sacrificing the truth?”

He acknowledged that Selcat had held only two public hearings in the last six months; one on the long list of expenses by the Wives of Selangor Elected Representatives Charity Organisation (Balkis) and former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s RM24 million mansion.

The other is the on-going inquiry into the allocations of the previous State assemblymen.

“We are doing this in support of good governance and this is nothing personal. I don’t agree that we’re victimising State officers. We are well-meaning people,” added Lee.

Selcat inquiry sparks DOs’ revolt

By Neville Spykerman

www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/38135-selcat-inquiry-sparks-dos-revolt-

SHAH ALAM, Sept 19 - A Selangor district officer has accused state watchdog Selcat of political opportunism and shaming him in an inquiry into misused state allocations, getting PAS’s Datuk Hasan Ali today on his side and touching off more turbulence within the Pakatan Rakyat government.

Apart from the claim, Klang District Officer (DO) Bakhtiar Husin and a few other counterparts also boycotted the state government’s Malaysia Day celebrations last Wednesday.

But instead of nipping the open revolt in the bud, Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and other executive councillors met the DOs on Thursday to listen to their “grouses”, effectively undermining the select committee on competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat), which was created and empowered by the legislative assembly.

Hasan poured oil into the fire today by describing Selcat “bullying officers” in comments made to the Sinar Harian tabloid, which had carried Bakhtiar’s complaints.

During his testimony on Sept 9, the DO and his officers were questioned about how more than RM4 million worth of annual allocation for use by Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in constituencies within the district was used, within the first two months of 2008.

Bakthiar admitted applications for allocations were fast-tracked for approval due to the general elections “to create an impact” as the money was needed to pay for small development projects and community programmes,

In Sinar Harian today, Bakhtiar lashed out at Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim as having a political agenda in carrying out the probe.

Bakhtiar is one of five DOs who testified in the inquiry in the state which is divided into nine districts.

In backing Bakhtiar, Hasan, who is a state executive councillor, called for the end of the public inquiries, suggesting it should be held behind closed doors.

However, the Selangor Pas Commissioner is on a collision course with Selcat which includes a lawmaker from his own party.

Saari Sungib told The Malaysian Insider that, Hasan should be referred to House Privileges Committee for his outburst and the matter should be deliberated internally.

“It’s in our interest to get his explanation because he may have been misquoted in the press.” said the PAS Hulu Kelang assemblyman.

The Selcat member pointed out that public inquiries are held in all modern democracies to provide check and balance to government administration.

“We are tasked with getting the truth, problem starts when witnesses try to be evasive.”

“In this case, the DOs who are financial controllers have the power to say ‘no’ and stop lawmakers from abusing their allocations,” he said.

Contrary to complaints, Saari said, Selcat was empowering to DOs to use their powers, which they always had but was denied to them by the previous BN administration, instead of just being “Yes Men”.

Taman Medan lawmaker Haniza Mohamad Talha saw the criticism against Selcat’s public inquiry as hampering the public’s “right to know”.

The deputy speaker said public perception has been positive because many things are being learnt and exposed unlike before.

During the public inquiry, a DO disclosed RM10 million was distributed to each district for small projects, in 2007, which is believed to part of BN’s pre-election development campaign.

“We would never have known this, had it not been for the public inquiry.”

She added the use of annual allocations for the general elections was obviously pre-planned because all DOs expedited the process at the same time, yet they have refused to disclose who gave them the order.

Haniza also expressed surprised at DOs’ allegations of being humiliated.

She pointed out officials from Selangor state-linked companies hauled up for a public inquiry earlier into the misuse of state funds channeled to the Wives of Selangor Elected Representatives Welfare Oganization (Balkis) were grilled even more intensely.

Selcat member Edward Lee said the public will be the judge of the select committee and its public inquiry.

“We call a spade a spade.” said the lawmaker for Bukit Gasing, who also pointed out that he had commended Sabak Bernam DO Marzuki Hussin and his team for their detailed upkeep of records and his frank opinions during his testimony.

“Hasan Ali, is the one who has to explain himself to the public. He has to vindicate himself.”

Lee added almost all DOs admitted that spending the annual allocations was not prudent.

Both Teng and Hasan could not be reached for comments.

Hasan had previously crossed swords with other executive councillors in the Selangor government by calling for a ban in the sale of beers in convenience outlets and asking mosque officials to detain Muslims drinking alcohol during the fasting month.

2009 Malaysia Day by DAPSY

DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) will be organising a get-together event on 16th September 2009 to commemorate the formation of Malaysia. Below are the details of the event. All are welcome. Malaysian dishes/set meal available at discounted rates just for this event.

Date
16 September 2009 (Wednesday)

Venue
Rocket United Cafe (next to Medan Makan SS2/Waisikkai, Petaling Jaya)
No. 18, Jalan SS2/63,
47300, Petaling Jaya,
Selangor

Programme (tentative)
1830 hours - Arrival of guests
1900 hours - Welcoming speech by JJ Beh (organising chairperson)
1910 hours - Speech by Anthony Loke (MP Rasah & ADUN Lobak) Jenice Lee (ADUN Teratai)
1930 hours - Yo-Yo Performance by Malaysia national to performers & caricature corner
2030 hours - Presentation of video clips of 15Malaysia - (http://15malaysia.com/)
2130 hours - Q&A - Pete Teo (producer/creator of 15Malaysia) & DAP leaders with Audience
2230 hours - Prize/Souvenir Presentation and Caricature
2300 hours - End

Simultaneously, an attempt to have live video feeds with two locations at Kuching & Kota Kinabalu, where DAPSY will also be holding Malaysia Day events at the same time, will be made.

DAPSY Sabah
Venue
DAPSY Sabah
No.4, Lorong Cindul, Jalan Ridgeview,
Lodo-k.k. High School, Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah

Contact
Teddy Yang 013-8504300 / Dr. Jeffery Wong 016-8186667

An all-day fast will take place to protest the inability of the Federal Govt and the Sabah State Govt to solve the state's electricity supply problems, making Sabah a "black" state. This sorry state of affairs contributes to a regular loss in income for businesses as well as interruptions to the daily lives of Sabahans. DAPSY members will break fast with Muslim supporters and friends at 7.15pm, followed by a film screening of "15Malaysia" short films.

DAPSY Sarawak
Venue
DAP Kuching Service Centre
P1-1-8(b) Chonglin Park, Jln Tabuan,
93100 Kuching, Sarawak

Time
7.15pm

Contact
082-414531

*The telecast can be accessed via tv.dapmalaysia.org.

Selangor Super 9's

Click on image for larger version.

Other than Mr Tuah, you may also contact Mr Alex Hay @ 012.210.3166.

Selcat inquiry: ADO took 1 minute to approve mountain of applications

Maria J.Dass
www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=37954

SHAH ALAM (Sept 11, 2009): An assistant district officer took just one minute to clear a mountain of applications for funds from assemblymen which landed on his table before the dissolution of Parliament on Feb 13, 2008.

Sepang assistant district officer Tahir Bujang, who was at that time the ADO for Gombak, told the Selangor Select Committee for Competency, Transparency and Accountability (Selcat) inquiry today that these included:

> 90 applications for RM496,509 from the Batu Caves assemblyman
> 103 applications for RM393,342 from the Gombak Setia assemblyman
> 225 applications for RM500,700 from the Hulu Kelang assemblyman
> 149 applications for RM496,500 from the Kuang assemblyman
> 86 applications for RM500,000 from the Taman Templer assemblyman and
> 235 applications for RM603,198 from the Rawang assemblyman.

Sepang ADO Tahir Bujang (left) and Gombak DO Huzaini Samsi during Selcat hearing. He admits he approved a mountain of applications for funds in 1 minute.

Due to the rush of applications, Tahir told the panel he did not look into the details of the community project (Mesra Rakyat) fund applications which he approved and therefore was not aware that among the payments he endorsed was rent for an Umno operations centre.

Panelist Haniza Mohd Talha, who is deputy speaker and Taman Medan Assemblyman, then told him to go back and read all the circulars that spelled out what he had to do to adhere to the guidelines stipulated by the state government.

“If this is how all our district officers’ work, then we have an uphill task ahead in our bid to implement good governance policies," she said.

The Selcat inquiry, which started on Tuesday, is to examine the expenditure of Selangor assemblymen from January last year to June this year. It will determine how an allocation of more than RM2.7million for assemblymen was spent within the first three months of 2008 by 54 Barisan Nasional assemblymen.

This is the second Selcat hearing. The first was held in late March to scrutinise the excesses of the Selangor Wives of Parliamentarians and Assemblymen Welfare Organisation which used funds donated by state companies to, among others, go on extravagant trips and organise elaborate dinners.

Tahir earlier got a earful from Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim for saying that the allocations for assemblymen was a “contribution” from the Menteri Besar.

“I am surprised with your statement, please go back and do your homework,” he said. “This is a budget allocation that is passed by the state legislative assembly, not a contribution from the Menteri Besar.”

Later on, Tahir was again reprimanded by Teng when he said he had approved an allocation to be given to the University Malaya treasurer for a student project because the applicant for the fund was a resident in Gombak.

“So what happens if the applicant is studying in the University of London, in Africa, Australia and so on, are you still going to approve the funds because the applicant is from
Gombak or because his father is a voter in Gombak?” Teng asked.

“Your reasoning does not make sense, it looks like you have to go back to Intan (Institute Tadbir Negara) for retraining,” he told Tahir.

Earlier, panelist Shaari Sungib asked Gombak district officer Huzaini Samsi whether he knew what happened to monies sought for Mesra Rakyat programmes and about records showing payments being made out to 33 MIC branches in the Gombak and Batu Caves area.

Applications for allocations fast-tracked for elections, Selcat told

by Maria J.Dass
www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=37866

SHAH ALAM (Sept 9, 2009): Applications for allocations by Selangor state assemblymen were fast-tracked for approval due to the 2008 general elections, the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) panel heard today.

Teng Chang Khim

Klang district officer Bakthiar Hussein, in his testimony to the five-member Selcat panel, claimed the money was released to ensure that it could be used to "create an impact on the rakyat".

Bakhiar, assistant district officer Sulaiman Abdul Rahman, chief clerk Ali Abdullah and an assistant accountant Ismail Hussin were questioned about how more than RM4 million worth of annual allocation for use by assemblymen in constituencies within the Klang district was used up within the first two months of 2008.

The officers frequently came under fire from Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim for giving vague and contradictory answers during the hearing today.

Bakthiar, in his testimony, claimed applications for allocations were fast-tracked for approval due to the general elections, as “as the money was needed to pay for small development projects and community programmes.

“We needed to release the money to ensure that it would be used to create an impact on the rakyat,” he said.

Teng: How was one year’s allocation spent in one-and-a-half months?

Bakhtiar: Personally this allocation is to be used for community programmes, small projects and in extraordinary circumstances like when there is a general election. As administrators, we adapt to the situation and ensure that the expenditure is spent according to the regulations set by the state government that will also monitor the spending.

Teng: But do you think it is prudent to spend an entire year’s allocation so much so when the new state administration took office there was nothing left?. This is the rakyat’s money that is being spent.

Bakhtiar: My job is to follow the circular issued.

He also said that it is a norm for additional allocations to be approved by the state for assemblymen to spend in their constituencies and that the vouchers issued for payment and signed on Feb 13 were for projects and programmes already implemented.

Teng: “Does it make sense to you that 171 projects and programmes were implemented in one constituency from Jan 1 to Feb 13?”

However, the district officer did not give a satisfactory response, prompting Teng to say: “Don’t dig your own graves, I will give you some time to sort this out among yourselves” and adjourned the hearing for a few minutes.

This is the second Selcat hearing and is targeted at examining the expenditure of assemblymen in the state from January 2008 to June 2009 and to determine how more than RM2.7 million was spent within the first three months of 2008 by 54 Barisan Nasional assemblymen, many of whom lost their seats in the March 2008 general elections.

In his testimony, Ali said that the officers in the district office were involved directly with preparations for the 2008 general elections and that during that time, there was a surge in application for allocations from assemblymen.

“We worked up till midnight to process this by the end of Feb 13,” he said, adding that an application is approved as soon as it is received from an assemblyman unless the claim does not fulfil the necessary criteria.

But when questioned why applications continued to be processed even after parliament and state legislative assemblies had been dissolved, the clerk claimed they (the staff) may not have been aware.

Teng: But you just said that you were up until midnight on Feb 13 to process the claims for the elections.

Fellow Selcat panelist Haniza Mohamed Talha also asked Ali: “You also just said that you (officers in the district office) were involved directly with the elections, so how come now you are saying that you may not have known?”

Teng: Please don’t tell me fairy tales. I remind you that you are under oath and if you are wrong and we prove it you will be in trouble.

Ali then chose to end his testimony and switched off his mike, prompting Teng to ask if there was an instruction to process the payments.

Bakthiar, in reply, said there was no instruction to process the payments, but “it was an understanding”.

Later, when speaking to reporters in his office, a visibly upset Teng hit out at the officers. “These officers are in a position to stop abuse and misuse of funds by assemblymen – from whichever party they are from,” he said.

“But today’s witnesses seemed to have adapted the “I only follow orders” attitude and are not interested in giving their professional input or suggestions on how things can be improved,” he added.

The Selcat panel is made up of Teng who is also state legislative assembly speaker, his deputy Haniza Talha, Mohamed Azmin Ali (Bukit Antarabangsa), Saari Sungib (Hulu Klang) and Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing).

This hearing began on Tuesday and is scheduled to go on until Sept 15, with a break over the weekend, at the state legislative assembly Annexe building.

DOs told to report harassing assemblymen

By Maria J. Dass
http://203.115.192.117/wednesday/pdf/thesun2009090904.pdf

SHAH ALAM: Selangor district offi cers (DOs) have been advised to report assemblymen
who harass or press them to approve dubious payments to the state secretary or the select committee on competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat).

Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim said yesterday it is in the interest of the state to help
its offi cers carry out their duties without any interference in a bid to instill good governance.

The problems faced by DOs was articulated by Gombak district offi cer Huzaini Samsi at the
second Selcat hearing to which he was summoned as a witness.

Talking about the dilemma he faces with regards to being the fi nancial controller in charge
of approving funds allocated to assemblymen, he said: “It is very diffi cult for us to refuse a request for release of payment because we do not want any confrontation with the assemblymen and to be placed in an uncomfortable situation.”

He said there is a thin line between what he perceived as a request from an assemblyman
and an instruction from an assemblyman. Huzaini, who has been Gombak district officer since July 2007, was the second witness to appear before the Selcat panel made up of Teng, his deputy Haniza Talha, Mohamed Azmin Ali (Bukit Antarabangsa), Saari Sungib
(Hulu Klang) and Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing).

The hearing was targeted at examining the expenditure of assemblymen in the state from
January 2008 to June 2009 and to determine how more than RM2.7 million assemblymen
allocation was spent within the first three months of 2008 by the former (BN) assemblymen,
most of whom lost their seats in the March 2008 general election. Huzaini said in his opinion the money allocated to assemblymen belonged to them and his job was to implement the approval of the allocations requested and sign the cheques.

However, he agreed that from a professional point of view it was not proper for one year’s allocation to be spent by an assemblyman in three months.

Asked by Saari what happens if he refused to approve the allocation, Huzaini said: “It’s
diffi cult if we don’t approve the allocation, and it’s diffi cult when we do ... our job is diffi cult.”

Huzaini had the panel in stitches when he exclaimed “fantastic! I did not know my staff
can be so efficient” when asked how the allocations could be approved so quickly when it usually takes two weeks.

Later, when asked how the allocations were approved after the state assembly was dissolved,
and even after a new state administration was sworn in, he exclaimed “adoi!” as he flipped through the document seemingly seeing it for the first time. No payments should have been made after the state legislative assembly is dissolved.

“In my opinion, it is morally wrong for assemblymen’s (development allocation) to be used for election campaigns.”

To questions from the panel, Huzaini said he was not the only one who had the power to sign
the cheques to be released to the assemblymen as these could also be signed by the chief assistant DO and an offi cer from the financial section of the administrative section.

Among other matters raised in the hearing were the disbursement of allocations to wings
and branches of political parties.

Earlier, Petaling DO Datuk Zulkepli Ahmad and assistant DO Yahya Hassan were quizzed
on the allocation disbursed to 14 former assemblymen whose constituencies fell under
the Petaling district office.

These include discrepancies like the issuance of payment vouchers before the applications
for the amount were submitted, the approval of money for programmes to assemblymen
who had lost their seats even after a new state administration had been sworn in, an entire allocation being paid out directly to assemblymen and the absence of cheque records and
payment dates.

The two DOs were unable to answer many of the questions and asked for time to look for
the relevant documents and information. They were granted time and will appear before the
committee again in the next few days.

Klang cleared 648 payments on day parliament was dissolved

By Chan Kok Leong
www.theedgemalaysia.com/political-news/148937-glaring-discrepancies

SHAH ALAM: The unusual speed with which the annual allocation for state assemblymen was used up prior to the 12th general election last year continued to be the focus of the Selangor Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) investigation today.

On the second day of the public inquiry into how Selangor assemblymen had spent their allocations, state government officials testified that nine seats under the Klang district, barring the Sri Muda constituency, had fully utilised their allocations in the first two months of the year.

The "extraordinary" payments looked glaringly hurried when it was revealed that 648 of the payments were made on the day that then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the dissolution of parliament and the state assemblies.

Unlike Tuesday's relatively cool inquiry, today's sitting was much more heated, and Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim almost lost his temper at one point.

Unhappy with several responses by Klang District Officer Bakhtiar Hussin and his subordinates, Teng called a 15-minute break so that the officers could "think carefully" before they resumed giving their testimonies.

"You are digging your own grave. If you continue to answer like that, you can be cited for negligence," he warned Klang Land Office finance officer Ali Abdullah before calling for a break.

The Selangor Speaker was also dissatisfied when Bakhtiar refused to give his opinion on whether the many transactions in his district were prompted by last year's general election.

Teng had repeatedly asked Bakhtiar whether he had received instructions to expedite the payments prior to the general election.

To all the questions, Bakhtiar said: "My job is to ensure that the applications for money complied with the standard operating procedures. I cannot say if the spending pattern was right or not."

"Don't you think there is a problem here?" asked Azmin Ali, the state assemblyman for Bukit Antarabangsa.

"I'm not sure," Bakhtiar replied. "I only approve and process payments for projects which are already done."

Azmin: "Do you think that the applications were made with the knowledge that the state assembly would be dissolved on Feb 13?"

Bakhtiar: "I'm not sure."

The inquiry heard that of the 1,561 applications for funding, 648 payments were issued on Feb 13.

The inquiry further heard that Meru assemblyman Datuk Jael Ismail made 121 applications on Feb 13, all of which were approved on the same day. Sementa assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rahman Pahlil's 191 applications on Feb 13 were similarly approved that same day.

Former Selangor speaker Tan Sri Onn Ismail, who used RM579,000 of his RM600,000 allocation, made 219 applications for donations on Feb 13 amounting to RM547,500. Of these, 207 were approved on the same day.

In reply to a question, Bakhtiar said it was "coincidental" that so many payments were made on Feb 13, when parliament and the state assemblies were dissolved.

However, assistant accountant Ismail Husin said that the department had performed "overtime and worked till midnight" to process the payments.

Ismail had earlier testified that their office "can only process 300-400 payments a day".

Questioned on why payments were made on Feb 13, Ali said that his department did not know that parliament had already been dissolved.

Incidentally, Bakhtiar served as the returning officer for the parliamentary seat of Kapar during last year's election.

When asked how 648 payments were made on Feb 13, none of the officers provided an answer.

During the inquiry, it was revealed that assemblymen can use their allocations for four purposes — local projects (up to RM20,000), people-friendly projects (up to RM8,000) and donations to non-governmental organisations or NGOs, associations and individuals (up to RM2,500).

Selangor elected representatives are entitled to a RM500,000 allocation each to use in their constituencies.

The Speaker and Deputy Speakers are entitled to RM600,000 each. By February 2008, 93.25% of the year's allocation of RM5.3 million to the 10 constituencies were already used up.

Besides Teng, Azmin and Saari Sungib, the other Selcat members are Selangor Deputy Speaker Hanizah Mohd Talha (Taman Medan) and Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing).

The public inquiry began yesterday and is scheduled to end Monday.

Selcat has power to probe wrongdoing

By V. Shankar Ganesh
www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/09selca/Article/index_html

KLANG: Selangor's special select committee on competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) is meant to provide an additional check and balance in the state administration.

It was formed on May 23 last year following a resolution tabled in the Selangor state assembly.

Similar to select committees in Commonwealth Parliaments, the idea for Selcat came when the new state government decided to hold public hearings on several alleged discrepancies in the running of the state.

Established under existing provisions in the Selangor constitution and assembly standing orders, it has the same powers as the three usual select committees, which are the public accounts committee, privileges and rights committee and standing orders committee.

Anyone can write to Selcat with a complaint regarding anything that involves the state government.

Its members will then study and decide whether to pursue the complaint.

It will request documents and sworn statements from those involved before issuing summonses to individuals, including civil servants and members of the public, to appear before it.

In the hearings, witnesses can be questioned in detail, which at times can be termed as "grilling".

To bolster Selcat, the Contempt of the House Enactment 2008 was passed last year by the state assembly.

The enactment compels those summoned to attend its hearings and provides for a fine and jail term for non-compliance.

It also provides for the punishment of those found giving false evidence.

However, prosecution under the enactment is under the jurisdiction of the police and with the consent of the attorney-general.

The committee's findings will then be tabled at the state assembly and it will be left to the administration to adopt the recommendations.

Three other special select committees -- on district and land offices, local government and government linked companies, statutory bodies and government agencies -- were formed last year.Another committee on legislation and budget will be formed soon.

The state plans to use the lessons learnt from Selcat proceedings and it will be used as a model for other select committee hearings.

Selcat will later be dissolved.

At present, Selcat has seven members, including two representatives from Barisan Nasional.

The Pakatan Rakyat representatives are its chairman, Speaker Teng Chang Khim, Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali, Saari Sungib (Hulu Kelang), Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing) and Haniza Talha (Taman Medan), while the BN members are Dusun Tua assemblyman Ismail Sani and Permatang representative Sulaiman Abu Bakar.

The committee has completed one investigation while another is still on-going.

The first case was on the dissolution of the Wives of Elected Selangor Representatives Welfare Organisation (Balkis) and the spending of its funds.

The second case being investigated now is on the spending of assemblymen's RM500,000 annual allocation.

During the hearing of the first case on Balkis, Selcat summoned about a dozen people to testify, including former menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and his wife, Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik.

However, both failed to turn up and Dr Khir was later suspended for a year for remarks made against Selcat in the media.

A police report was lodged against Zahrah for her failure to attend but action has yet to be taken against her under the Contempt of the House Enactment 2008.

Selcat hearing: DOs told to report harassing assemblymen

Maria J. Dass
www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=37825

SHAH ALAM (Sept 8, 2009): Selangor district officers (DOs) have been advised to report assemblymen who harass or press them to approve dubious payment to the state secretary or the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat).

Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim said it was in the interest of the state to help its officers carry out their duties without any interference in a bid to instill good governance.

The problems faced by DOs was articulated by Gombak DO Huzaini Samsi at the second Selcat hearing to which he was summoned as a witness.

Talking about the dilemma he faces with regards to being the financial controller in charge of approving funds allocated to assemblymen, he said: "It is very difficult for us to refuse a request for release of payment because we do not want any confrontation with the assemblymen and to be placed in an uncomfortable situation."

He also said there was a thin line between what he perceived as a request from an assemblyman and an instruction from an assemblyman.

Huzaini, who has been Gombak DO since July 2007, was the second witness to appear before the Selcat panel made up of Teng, his deputy Haniza Talha, Mohamed Azmin Ali (Bukit Antarabangsa), Saari Sungib (Hulu Klang) and Edward Lee (Bukit Gasing).

The hearing was targeted at examining the expenditure of assemblymen in the state from January 2008 to June 2009 and to determine how more than RM2.7 million assemblymen allocation was spent within the first three months of 2008 by the former (BN) assemblymen, most of whom lost their seats in the March 2008 general election.

Huzaini said in his opinion the money allocated to assemblymen belonged to them and his job was to implement the approval of the allocations requested and sign the cheques.

However, he agreed that from a professional point of view it was not proper for one year's allocation to be spent by an assemblyman in three months.

Asked by Saari what happens if he refused to approve the allocation, Huzaini said: "It's difficult if we don’t approve the allocation, and it’s difficult when we do ... our job is difficult."

Huzaini, who was candid, had the panel in stitches when he exclaimed "Fantastic! I did not know my staff can be so efficient" when asked how the allocations could be approved so quickly when it usually takes two weeks.

Later, when asked how the allocations were approved after the state assembly was dissolved, and even after a new state administration was sworn in, he exclaimed "Adoi!" as he flipped through the document seemingly seeing it for the first time. No payments should have been made after the state legislative assembly is dissolved.

"In my opinion, it is morally wrong for assemblymen's (development allocation) to be used for election campaigns."

To questions from the panel, Huzaini said he was not the only one who had the power to sign the cheques to be released to the assemblymen as these could also be signed by the chief assistant DO and an officer from the financial section of the administrative section.

Among other matters raised in the hearing were the disbursement of allocations to wings and branches of political parties.

Earlier, Petaling DO Datuk Zulkepli Ahmad and assistant DO Yahya Hassan were quizzed on the allocation disbursed to 14 former assemblymen whose constituencies fell under the Petaling district office.

These include discrepancies like the issuance of payment vouchers before the applications for the amount were submitted, the approval of money for programmes to assemblymen who had lost their seats even after a new state administration had been sworn in, an entire allocation being paid out directly to assemblymen and the absence of cheque records and payment dates.

The two DOs were unable to answer many of the questions and asked for time to look for the relevant documents and information. They were granted time and will appear before the committee again in the next few days.