Selangor sitting: Satim draws laughter with antics, Badrul tries to gatecrash

As expected, Umno has rejected the proposal from the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government to amend the state constitution so as to return the right to appoint top civil servants to the state administrators and the Sultan.

“This sitting need not be held, because the MB knows he won’t get the two-thirds majority needed to pass the amendments… 20 BN representatives and one independent assemblyman won’t support this, so isn’t this move futile?” Satim Diman, the opposition head from Umno, told the sitting.

He had wasted no time in announcing the BN's stand.

Earlier on, Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim had urged the House to support the amendments for the sake of future generations of Selangor people,

The amendments would safeguard the state - the country's richest - from power-crazed leaders who were willing to use all ways and means to challenge the state government and even the Sultan, Khalid had said.

But Khalid's plea fell on deaf ears.

"Dr" Satim and the Umno fetish with Nie Ching's clothes

Nonetheless Satim, whose 'Doctorate' from an unaccredited university was questioned in the media last week, attracted attention although once again for the wrong reasons.

Perhaps the Seri Serdang assemblyman had not yet become used to his new role, but the manner in which he tried to present his case in the Selangor assembly drew giggles even from his colleagues.

Instead of focusing on constitutional factors and reasons to back up Umno's rejection of the amendments, Satim went after Teo Nie Ching instead. He slammed Teo, who is the Serdang MP, for not covering her head and dressing appropriately while at Mosque premises.

"New opposition chief from UMNO is hilarious in the dewan. He was reminded by Speaker to memorize the Standing Orders," said Subang Jaya assemblywoman Hannah Yeoh.

"New Opposition Leader talks about women and not about the amendments? Even Khir Toyo debates better than this," said Elizabeth Wong, the Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman and state executive councilor for tourism and environment.

Elizabeth was referring to former mentri besar Khir Toyo who had to surrender his post as opposition head after he was charged for corruption.

Khir has also been accused by the Pakatan of selling out Selangorians to the federal government. In 1993, he had allowed former premier Mahathir Mohamad to vest the authority to appoint the state secretary, finance officer and legal adviser with the federal government.

As these represent the state's top civil positions, whoever fills the posts are of vital importance. Due to the enormous power the positions carry, the appointees can sabotage and even cripple the state government.

Meanwhile, Satim drew laughter with his antics that were reminiscent of the lawyer who represented the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in the Teoh Beng Hock inquest, who had tried to bully and humiliate Thai forensic expect Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand.

At one point, Satim even described Khalid's administration as being 'syok sendiri' or pompous. But like the MACC lawyer, Satim may probably have done more harm to himself and his party than to Khalid and his team.

Then there was Badrul

Barring any surprises, Pakatan is expected to fail in pushing the motion through as it is two assemblymen short of the two-thirds minimum majority requirement needed to make such a constitutional change.

There are 56 seats in the Selangor assembly, of which 35 are held by Pakatan. The rest are held by the BN (20) and BN-friendly independent (1).

Meanwhile, former Port Klang assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah was barred from attending sitting after Speaker Teng Chang Khim declared his seat vacant last week. According to Teng, Badrul had failed to attend any sittings for a period of 6 months, setting the stage for his disqualification.

At a press conference held outside the assembly building, Badul warned that he would be filing a lawsuit to challenge his disqualification "maybe this afternoon".

But Pakatan leaders were unfazed.

"We are not worried and we are prepared for Umno and the Election Commission to gang up together with the courts. But the constitution is clear. The power to suspend is with the state and Teng has the proof of his absence," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

"If Umno challenges, which they are bound to because they fear a by-election, it means the seat will remain vacant for longer. Not only will this further tarnish the image of our institutions, we must consider if it will benefit the people of Port Klang who have already been complaining about Badrul."

The amendments to the constitution were broached after Prime Minister Najib Razak insisted on making Umno appointee Khusrin Munawi the sttae secretary despite strong objection from Khalid and his administration.

If rejected, it will mean Khalid will have to accept Khusrin although his administration is likely to restict his role in the state government.

If approved, then Khalid can invalidate Khusrin's appointment. But the onus will also be on Khalid to show his loyalty to the Sultan, who has indicated that he had already agreed to Khusrin's appointment. - Malaysia Chronicle