Malacca state assembly passes motion to set up Melcat

MALACCA DUN | The Malacca State Assembly today passed a motion to set up the Malacca Special Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Melcat)

It was proposed by Malacca Chief Minister Adly Zahari (Amanah-Bukit Katil) and seconded by State Education, Science and Technology, Green Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Noor Effendi Ahmad (Bersatu-Telok Mas) before being debated and approved through a majority vote.

However, the proposal, which would allow people, including civil servants, to lodge direct complaints on issues involving government administration, was not debated or voted upon by opposition members.

This is because they had left the assembly hall prior to the vote, in protest of the speaker's decision to order opposition leader Idris Haron (BN-Sungai Udang) to leave the hall for refusing to heed the latter's instruction to sit down following a disagreement on the ruling of another motion.

Adly, when proposing the motion said the main purpose of Melcat was to help the government manage important issues without compromising the overall sustainability of the administration.

He said Melcat would help in finding solutions to problems, and not look to punish any individual.

"This (state government) leadership requires some form of check and balance to ensure it remains focused and dedicated to carrying out its responsibilities towards the people and the state.

"As a committee established under the authority of the State Assembly, Melcat will remain impartial and will not have any executive members, so that any advice or suggestion given is transparent and sincere," Adly said.

Melcat will be chaired by Damian Yeo Shen Li (DAP-Duyong); and the other members are Alex Seah Shoo Chin (DAP-Kesidang), Dr Wong Fort Pin (DAP-Bemban), Gue Teck (PKR-Klebang), Roslan Ahmad (BN-Merlimau), and Nor Azman Hassan (BN-Pantai Kundor).

Meanwhile, outside the assembly hall, Adly said Melcat would allow the voices of the people to be heard in an effective manner as public investigations were allowed, and anyone could be called up to the hearings including the Chief Minister.

"Actually, our aim is not only to hear the voices of the people, but also civil servants, especially the staff at the implementation level, such as those carrying out works to clean rivers, they can also give suggestions to Melcat.

"I think the civil servants will be the happiest with the implementation of Melcat," he said.

– Bernama