Khir clamouring to repair public image

The Selangor government today clamoured to repair its tattered public image over its handling of the Datuk Zainal@Zakaria Mat Deros case.

In a press statement, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the state had actually asked the Port Klang assemblyman to voluntarily step down as Klang municipal councillor even before his meeting with Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah on Saturday (Oct 28, 2006).

Khir said this was not revealed earlier as the state government wanted to give Zakaria a chance to resign from the post on his own in the interest of the people and the state, thus solving the problem without causing disrespect to any parties.

He said Zakaria was told to relinquish his position as councillor voluntarily and to inform the Sultan about it during their meeting.

“However, his failure to do so forces the state to make this public,” he said.

Khir’s handling of the issue had invited criticisms that the state had dragged its feet on this matter, forcing the Sultan to intervene.

Khir suggested that the Local Government Act 1976 be amended to allow the appointment of professionals as councillors for their respective areas.

When asked to clarify this statement, since the present law provides for such appointments, a state government spokesperson said this was because the Act was not specific.

Source: The Sun

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