25 October 2008 - 12:25pm
SHAH ALAM (Oct 24, 2008): Accusations flew across the floor between political foes as the Selangor budget debate wrap-up today touched on the running of local authorities, which some quarters have in the past described as playground for “Little Napoleons”.
Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen took swipes at the Pakatan Rakyat-run state government’s ability to run the local authorities and to check abuses only for the PR representative to remind them of the excesses and abuses committed during their administration.
Riled up at the frequent reference to contracts being given to Umno leaders, several party members stood up to defend themselves. Former menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo stood up to defend the former administration, prompting deputy speaker Haniza Mohamed Talha to tell him to sit down. “Your role is to ask questions, not give explanations,” she told him.
Executive councilor for local authorities and research and development Ronnie Liu, responding to queries raised by Mohd Khir earlier this week on why the PR-led administraton did not act against current owners of Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Mat Dero’s controversial palatial mansion, said: “It was your administration that alienated the land to Zakaria’s family and approved the structure after imposing a fine for flouting planning and building regulations.”
“So don’t blame us,” he said.
“Similarly, you also complained about the large number of massage parlours around the state,” he told Mohd Khir, adding that this was because the previous government led by Mohd Khir issued licences for these operations.
“Now speaking like we gave the licences out,” said Liu, who added that all the problems with street lights, shoddy roads and poor waste management were problems they inherited from BN.
Mohd Isa Abu Kasim (BN-Batang Kali) questioned Liu over allegations by the PR that all contracts in local authorities were swept up by Umno leaders.
“Give us a list of names, don’t just make allegations,” he said.
Liu said this will be made available on the local council websites.
Yap Eee Wah (BN-Sungai Pelek) then questioned the possibility of abuses that may occur in the new administration as there were still politicians involved in the administration of local authorities to which Liu disagreed, saying there were no politicians on the tender boards.
“Although there are politicians in the full board, they won’t influence the tender and audit committees,” Liu said. “In the last state administration, we had politicians who were full board members and in the tender and audit committees and this led to a lot abuses.”
He said there were no controls and that was why a RM20,000 project would end up costing RM60,000 and this type of wastage led to a lot of local councils having deficit budgets.
Meanwhile, Wong Koon Mun (BN-Kuala Kubu Baru) asked Liu if there would be more opportunities for non-Malays to obtain projects in the local authorities only to invite a lesson on state and Federal policies.
Liu: Our policy is to not award contracts based on the colour of one’s skin, religion or political affiliations.
Wong: Don’t you know that only class F Bumiputra contractors can get these projects, how will you change this policy?
Liu: That is a Federal system and if you want to change this, then you can help by asking your leader at the Federal level like Datuk Ong Tee Keat (MCA president) and Datuk Chua Soi Lek (MCA deputy president) to solve this with the Federal leaders.
Liu then continued to speak but was again interrupted by Datuk Subahan Kamal (BN-Taman Templer).
Subahan: You are accusing the BN of involving politicians in the local authorities, but you too have politicians in the local councils.
Liu: We have political appointees but we also have 25% councillors from the non-governmental organisations. You had 100% politicians in the full board so why do you want to make noise now?
SHAH ALAM (Oct 24, 2008): Accusations flew across the floor between political foes as the Selangor budget debate wrap-up today touched on the running of local authorities, which some quarters have in the past described as playground for “Little Napoleons”.
Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen took swipes at the Pakatan Rakyat-run state government’s ability to run the local authorities and to check abuses only for the PR representative to remind them of the excesses and abuses committed during their administration.
Riled up at the frequent reference to contracts being given to Umno leaders, several party members stood up to defend themselves. Former menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo stood up to defend the former administration, prompting deputy speaker Haniza Mohamed Talha to tell him to sit down. “Your role is to ask questions, not give explanations,” she told him.
Executive councilor for local authorities and research and development Ronnie Liu, responding to queries raised by Mohd Khir earlier this week on why the PR-led administraton did not act against current owners of Port Klang state assemblyman Datuk Zakaria Mat Dero’s controversial palatial mansion, said: “It was your administration that alienated the land to Zakaria’s family and approved the structure after imposing a fine for flouting planning and building regulations.”
“So don’t blame us,” he said.
“Similarly, you also complained about the large number of massage parlours around the state,” he told Mohd Khir, adding that this was because the previous government led by Mohd Khir issued licences for these operations.
“Now speaking like we gave the licences out,” said Liu, who added that all the problems with street lights, shoddy roads and poor waste management were problems they inherited from BN.
Mohd Isa Abu Kasim (BN-Batang Kali) questioned Liu over allegations by the PR that all contracts in local authorities were swept up by Umno leaders.
“Give us a list of names, don’t just make allegations,” he said.
Liu said this will be made available on the local council websites.
Yap Eee Wah (BN-Sungai Pelek) then questioned the possibility of abuses that may occur in the new administration as there were still politicians involved in the administration of local authorities to which Liu disagreed, saying there were no politicians on the tender boards.
“Although there are politicians in the full board, they won’t influence the tender and audit committees,” Liu said. “In the last state administration, we had politicians who were full board members and in the tender and audit committees and this led to a lot abuses.”
He said there were no controls and that was why a RM20,000 project would end up costing RM60,000 and this type of wastage led to a lot of local councils having deficit budgets.
Meanwhile, Wong Koon Mun (BN-Kuala Kubu Baru) asked Liu if there would be more opportunities for non-Malays to obtain projects in the local authorities only to invite a lesson on state and Federal policies.
Liu: Our policy is to not award contracts based on the colour of one’s skin, religion or political affiliations.
Wong: Don’t you know that only class F Bumiputra contractors can get these projects, how will you change this policy?
Liu: That is a Federal system and if you want to change this, then you can help by asking your leader at the Federal level like Datuk Ong Tee Keat (MCA president) and Datuk Chua Soi Lek (MCA deputy president) to solve this with the Federal leaders.
Liu then continued to speak but was again interrupted by Datuk Subahan Kamal (BN-Taman Templer).
Subahan: You are accusing the BN of involving politicians in the local authorities, but you too have politicians in the local councils.
Liu: We have political appointees but we also have 25% councillors from the non-governmental organisations. You had 100% politicians in the full board so why do you want to make noise now?
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