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.
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