PETALING JAYA (Nov 12): IS a major reshuffling of council presidents on the cards in Selangor? According to State sources, the State Government is looking into this move to address problems such as inefficiency, internal politics among civil servants, councillors and council heads as well as stop gap measures to address non-working councils.
It is believed that issues in the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) lead to this move as a solution against removing MPKj president Datuk Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman (photo) who is engaged in a stand-off with the council's 24 councillors.
As the State Government has refused to penalise Hasan for unlawfully approving a RM10 million development charge discount to developers in Kajang, it is believed that transferring him out as part of a general reshuffle of councils will be the best option.
"Yes, Hasan breached the law, but it is understood that it was not done maliciously.
"He had a good intention as he told the developer to build extra infrastructure instead, but this has not gone down well with the councillors," said a source.
Fz.com yesterday in the column Point Taken highlighted the standoff between Hasan and his councillors who had sought to remove him.
The boycott has now resulted in the council almost coming to a standstill with councillors refusing to convene committee meetings as well as the monthly Full Board meetings.
Hence Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is now the approving authority for all municipal issues such as budgets and planning approval in Kajang.
"With the council reshuffle, it would not be seen as Hasan being punished," said the source.
One option was to wait for Hasan to retire, but that would be too long as he only turns 60 on Dec 9 next year.
So, with councils like Subang Jaya and Sepang needing replacements, there is a possibility that he could be moved out sooner.
However, if it is true that Hasan has a dossier on 10 councillors who benefitted from council contracts, which is why the State does not want to come down hard on him, then there is no telling that he may make the same threat of he is to be moved out of Kajang, which he has helmed since 2007.
But the State, too, should be sanctioned for protecting the identities of these councillors.
"They will be removed when their term ends next month," said a State official, without giving any details.
State executive councillor for Local Government Datuk Teng Chang Kim said the issue is being handled by Khalid and it will be left to the Mentri Besar for a solution.
"We are not protecting anyone but doing what is necessary in the public interest," he told Fz.com, declining further comment.
Planning law expert and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) councillor Derek Fernandez had chided the State's handling of the issue.
According to Fernandez, if there was insufficient evidence, then the complaint had to be dismissed and the councillors notified.
But if there is assumed evidence, as in this case, then the State must relieve the president of duties pending the final determination.
Likewise, he said investigations should also focus on the alleged claims by Hasan against the councillors seeking contracts.
Fernandez said the deputy council president should be sworn in, and as provided under the law.
"This way there is no disruption of the council's work as a statutory body.
"The councillors are obliged to attend the meetings and as they took an oath of office, they must attend it if the deputy president chairs it, pending the final determination on the allegations," he added.
Fernandez pointed out that Section 10 (1) of the act defines local authority as "not less than eight and not more than 24 councillors with the president."
"Hence, no decision made can be a decision of the local authority, unless this quorum is satisfied," he said.
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