Batang Kali rep goes AWOL, seat declared vacant

 

Selangor legislative assembly speaker Ng Suee Lim has declared the Batang Kali state seat vacant.

In a statement, Ng said Batang Kali incumbent Harumaini Omar has been absent from the assembly for more than six months without leave.

Therefore the speaker was obliged to act in accordance with the constitution of Selangor 1959.

Harumaini (above) is a member of Pejuang. He was elected in 2018 when he stood as a Pakatan Harapan coalition candidate. At the time, he was with Bersatu.

Ng pointed out that Harumaini's last appearance at the Selangor state assembly was July 27 last year.

Selangor assembly speaker Ng Suee Lim (right) with deputy speaker Hasnul Baharuddin.

He said there were no records of Harumaini explaining his absence from the Selangor assembly meeting between Nov 23, 2022, and Dec 6, 2022.

In view of this, the vacancy took effect from Jan 28.

No appeals process

Ng said he took some time to announce the vacancy because of the holiday season.

"We also (needed time) to refer to the state legal adviser. Only after receiving the advice am I able to declare (the vacancy)," he said.

Ng added that the law did not stipulate any appeals process.

He pointed out a precedent in 2011 when then-speaker Teng Chang Khim declared the Pelabuhan Klang seat vacant after incumbent Badrul Hisham Abdullah committed a similar offence.

Ng also said he did not correspond with Harumaini over the latter's absence.

"It is not the job of the speaker to ask each assemblyperson about their attendance.

"Those who require (leave of absence) must notify the assembly secretary," he added.

Meanwhile, Ng confirmed that Harumaini will be paid only up to January and he will get to keep his pension.

"The Selangor legislative assembly will expire in June. He will be paid around five months less than the rest," he said. - Mkini