Deputy speaker ticks off assemblymen who only sign in and disappear

 

Selangor deputy speaker Hasnul Baharuddin said the Batang Kali assemblyman’s eviction from the state assembly had been referred to the state legal adviser. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Selangor deputy speaker Hasnul Baharuddin has criticised the attitude of many assemblymen who do not take their duties seriously in attending state assembly sittings.

“They drop in for half an hour, and then leave. After signing in, they leave. This means we can’t take action (against them).

“But morally, it’s not right for assemblymen to do such a thing –  showing up just for attendance’s sake, and then immediately leaving,” Hasnul said when met at a National Anti-Drug Day programme at Pantai Morib, Banting, today, Bernama reported.

Hasnul also said that all Selangor assemblymen must attend a sitting in six months, even if it was only for a day.

He was commenting on the case of former Batang Kali assemblyman Harumaini Omar, who lost his seat for not attending state assembly sittings for six months.

Hasnul said Harumaini can challenge his eviction as assemblyman in court.

He said the decision made by Selangor Speaker Ng Suee Lim last Thursday had already been referred to the state legal adviser for further action.

Hasnul said Harumaini had contacted him and admitted that he had failed to provide a letter to the assembly or the Speaker explaining the reasons behind his absence at the state assembly sittings, including his wife’s health issues and other family matters.

“So in my opinion, he himself did not say anything to the Speaker. He admitted his mistakes when I reached out to him for an explanation (following Ng’s decision).

“It is clearly stated in the state enactment and regulations that you (assemblymen) have to show up within a six-month period.

“Even if he (Harumaini) had attended the previous sitting, he has been absent for six months from the cut-off date (July 27).”

In addition, he said Harumaini also failed to show up for the tabling of the 2023 Selangor Budget last year.

On Feb 16, the Batang Kali state seat was declared vacant effective Jan 28 after the incumbent, Harumaini, of Pejuang, failed to show up for any sitting in a period of six months.

The declaration was carried out under Article LXIX of the Selangor State Constitution 1959. - FMT