(Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): The Star had carried a front page report on 23^rd October that:

“It is understood that one of the Sultan’s official had attempted to reach Zakaria five times through the politician’s aide to hand over the order.

“Eventually, the order had to be sent to Zakaria personally by the Klang OCPD.”

Zakaria had informed Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo that he is not felling well, prompting Khir Toyo to inform the press that Zakaria is not suitable to meet the press. It is also believed that this is also the reason that Zakaria had failed to attend the royal summon scheduled on Monday.

For a State Assemblyman cum Councillor like Zakaria, to ignore Sultan Selangor’s royal summon is not only showing that he is uncapable to uphold rule of law, exemplary leadership, good governance and integrity as proclaimed in the Prime Minister’s electoral pledge, as well as the mindset that should have been displayed by a Selangor State Legislator when the Mentri Besar announced that Selangor is already a so called developed state, but it is also showing that he is a man too arrogant, too arrogant until as if he was already a “Raja” by himself.

In a Constitutional Monarch like Malaysia, the Sultans seldom interfere with the running of the Government but for Selangor, the Sultan had several times issued royal summon and ticked off those who are involved in malpractices, this of course cannot be interpreted as interference but it shows the seriousness of the problem in Selangor. Selangor is clearly in serious crisis of good governance.

The previous royal summon from the Palace was for the previous Mayor of Petaling Jaya, Datuk Termizi Puteh for his failure in resolving the City’s billboard scandal. That was only one call by itself and the Mayor had to rush to the palace to testify all the charges against him.

Now we have one Zakaria with the royal summon for him was tried to be conveyed to him five times without success until it had to be passed to him by Klang OCPD.

While doing so, Zakaria managed to explain to the Khir Toyo that it was Zakaria’s architect to be blamed as he did not get approval for his mansion on Kampung Idaman from the Klang Municipal Council.

Zakaria told Khir through the telephone that it was not that he did not want to obtain approval first, but he had left those affairs to the architect.

Khir Toyo informed the press about this and he said that Zakaria is in the process of replacing the architect and the necessary procedures would be followed.

I do not understand that if Zakaria manage to explain to the Menteri Besar on this matter, what makes him so difficult to explain directly to the press and the Sultan as well?

Zakaria’s refusal to attend the Royal summon just show that there is nothing much we can expect from BN Selangor un upholding justice, integrity, good governance and democracy in Selangor. We cannot even expect representatives from other BN component parties to speak up as they have to abide by the BN whip in the legislative assembly hall and they cannot vote according to their own conscience.

To uphold integrity, to salvage good governance and to preserve democracy in Selangor, there must be a strong opposition representation in Selangor. Else, scandals like such will not cease to varnish.

(25/10/2006)