SHAH ALAM, Mar 17 – The failure of a large number of Barisan Nasional (BN) State Assemblymen (Aduns) to attend the final day of the state legislative assembly meeting is seen as irresponsible behaviour. 

Dato’ Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said as representatives, their responsibilities included debating issues relating to the people during the meeting. 

“I hope (the quality of) their discipline will improve in future,” he said after the Dun ended this afternoon.

Abdul Khalid said the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Adun had shown maturity throughout the six-day sitting.

He said, besides passing the State Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation Enactment Bill, the meeting this time also passed four motions raised by PR Aduns.

The four motions were, acknowledging the freedom of the state government and its subsidiaries to make contributions as part of its social responsibility to any party it deems fit ; to urge the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Comission (MACC) to investigate all allegations of corruption and rampant abuse of powers based on merit without choosing cases.

The third motion is to urge the federal government to abide by and give priority to the rights of the people of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur in negotiating the repurchase of water from concession companies, and finally, to urge the state government to help the people overcome the worsening economic situation.

The first meeting of the second term also debated an emergency motion on the Selangor State Development Office’s efforts in carrying out the ‘People Centric’ programme to increase public support for the federal government by smearing the image and credibility of the state government and its leaders.

Commenting on this, Abdul Khalid said even though it could be done by BN, it was still a disciplinary offence by a government officer.

“Using governments paid (salaries) through the country’s taxes (for programmes) such as this is a disciplinary offence,” he said.   – NOOR ALLIA KASSIM