Khir Toyo faces suspension

By V Shankar Ganesh

SHAH ALAM, Tues:

Former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo may be suspended without pay as a state assemblymen for breaking the assembly’s rules.

Selangor Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim said this was one of the options available to the Privilege Committee after Dr Khir and four other Barisan Nasional assemblymen were hauled up for allegedly criticising the assembly’s integrity.

Dr Khir and the assemblymen faced the committee for about 30 minutes this morning to answer the charges against them.

The other assemblymen are Datuk Warno Dogol ( Sabak), Mohd Isa Abu Kasim (Batang Kali), Datuk Marsum Paing (Dengkil) and Datuk Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar (Hulu Bernam).

The five came with a team of seven lawyers, who were allowed to accompany them in the closed-door hearing.
However, all five members of the committee were tight-lipped about what transpired during the hearing, saying it was an offence to reveal anything about the deliberations.

Among the charges Dr Khir faced are disrespecting the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency by not attending its hearing and questioning its validity.

The other assemblymen are accused of issuing statements criticising the committee.

Teng said the committee would now deliberate on the matter and a decision would be reached by next Tuesday, and it would be tabled for approval in the next State assembly sitting.

He said among the punishments that can be meted out if they were found guilty were suspension without pay, a warning or asking them to apologise to the House.

He said the charges against the five were brought to the committee under Section 70 of the Standing Orders.

On whether there was a conflict of interest as he sat in both committees, Teng said as the Speaker, he had been vested with a lot of power.

“I can punish anyone. I can be the complainant, the prosecutor and also the judge in this case. All this is allowed according to the law.”

However, he said they could appeal any decision by moving a motion for review in the assembly and the Speaker had to allow it.

Teng said a police report had also been lodged against Dr Khir wife, Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik for not attending the committee’s hearing.

He said police can act against her under the Contempt of House Enactment 2008, which provides a jail sentence up to three years or RM10,000 fine.

Warno Dogol is one of two BN lawmakers in the privilege committee, but he will not be allowed to exercise his right to vote in this case.
The other is Kuala Kubu Baharu assemblyman Wong Koon Mun.

The other members are speaker Teng Chang Khim, deputy speaker Haniza Mohamed Talha, Subang Jaya assemblyman Hannah Yeoh, Rawang assemblyman Gan Peh Nei and Bangi Assemblyman Dr Shafie Abu Bakar.