Probationary councillor kicks up a fracas in briefing yet again!

Friday, 29 August 2008

Probationary councillor kicks up a fracas in briefing yet again!

Keshminder Singh....created a fracas at MPSJ's second full board meeting for the new term.

Sporting a trendy pair of sunglasses which he wore almost throughout the whole meeting and briefing by Alam Flora, MPSJ councillor Keshminder Singh seemed to be in a jolly mood, joking away with fellow councillor Roslan Shahir Dato' Mohd Shahir who was seated next to him.

At times when he needed to pay more attention to the screen in front of him, his sunglasses would sit on his forehead but other times, it goes back down sitting snugly on his nose bridge.

Just a day before, he was embroiled in a fracas with ADUN Subang Jaya Hannah Yeoh over a trivial matter - "thou shall not sit where councillors sit".

He had apparently made a loud fuss on why Hannah was seated at the circular table where councillors sat when attending meetings, instead of at the observers seating area. For those who may be unaware, State Assemblyman are not councillors under the new State Government and are also not allowed to interfere in council proceedings.

But according to Hannah, she was merely sitting at the table to use the plug point for her laptop which she uses to take notes. She had not uttered a word throughout the proceedings and prior to that, she had sought permission from council president Dato' Adnan Md Ikshan who presided the full board meeting to sit at the place for the reasons she had mentioned.

Today (Aug 29), Keshminder who sits as councillor under the PKR ticket, again made another rude remark to his DAP counterpart Chia Kwai Loy who was sharing his bit on solid waste management and incinerators in the meeting.

Keshminder interrupted Chia over the microphone and told him not to waste the councillors time and cease his comments. An exchange of words took place between him and Chia, who told Keshminder that if he wasn't interested in what was being said, he could leave.

Councillor Joseph Xavier who was seated next to Chia calmed everyone down.

Now the situation goes down hill from here for Keshminder. Apparently his uncalled for remarks on Hannah did not go down well with the other DAP and also NGO councillors.

Together, they handed over an objection letter to Adnan immediately after the meeting with Alam Flora, making it clear they expected Keshminder to apologise to Hannah and all the other councillors.

The letter was handed to Adnan and also witnessed by State Exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah, KAMPUNG Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San, Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gwo-Burne and several other councillors who signed the petition.

Councillor Chong Kuen Yip who presented the objection letter to Adnan said those present were against the way Keshminder behaved.

"It's not professional for a councillor to make such an outburst."

"The letter we are presenting to Adnan will also be forwarded to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim," he said, adding that everyone should work as a team and Keshminder's behaviour was a laughing stock.

Chia who was very upset with Keshminder's retort in the earlier meeting said, "How can he be so rude?

Ean Yong Hian Wah said Keshminder's statement that he would not attend the next meeting was unprofessional.

"I will bring this matter up with State Exco Ronnie Liu and also Tan Sri Khalid," he said.

Gwo-Burne who was visibly upset with the situation as this involved a PKR councillor said it was obvious some choices of candidates for councillors have turned out to be less than impressive.

"It is regrettable that things like this have to happen. Party leaders should take note of this and address it," he said.

Lau Weng San said he hoped the councillor will admit his mistake and apologise to Hannah and the rest to settle the matter.

Under Section 25 Part 7 of the Local Government Act 1976, council meetings are open to the public and representatives of the media.

Editor's Note

It is shocking to witness such arrogant and impulsive behaviour with representatives of the people who are entrusted to speak on behalf of the community they come from.

As much as we can tolerate mood swings (perhaps he had a bad day) once in awhile because we are after all mortals, two consecutive outburst on two different individuals by the same person surely shows signs of immaturity and lack of professionalisme.

Thus it was heartening to hear Ean Yong Hian Wah reassure the media that councillors were still under probation and the way they behave and carry out the duties entrusted to them, would determine if they will be allowed to carry out their full term as councillors.

How can the council through it's "ambassadors" gain any respect from the corporate sector when these very same people make wild outburst on fellow councillors right in front of them.

Looking at things in a more objective and matured manner, even if State Assemblymen were disallowed to attend such meetings, Hannah, who is a resident in USJ, can attend such meetings as a resident and there shouldn't be any point of contention

Perhaps it is time to consider having a Council Whip similar to that in Parliament to keep "wilder" councillors in check?

Below are extracts from Hannah's blog on this matter:

The reason why I was there...

This morning I have been busy answering and replying calls and sms from people in relation to the incident reported in NST , Sinar Harian and The Star today. Some facts were inaccurate and some were omitted. Please find below the sequence of events which took place at MPSJ Full Board Meeting yesterday:-

I arrived at the meeting room and asked Urusetia MPSJ for my seat. I informed them I needed to use my laptop. Together with Urusetia MPSJ, we went over to MPSJ seats but discovered that there were no available plugpoints. Urusetia MPSJ then said that I could sit at the end of the table (where councillors would sit) for an available plugpoint.
Half way through the meeting, one PKR councillor Keshminder Singh then questioned the YDP as to why I was allowed to sit at the table with the rest of them. Some other councillors immediately reacted to his statement but he insisted that as an observer I should not be allowed to be there.
YDP then read out the law that says full board meetings are open to public.
Important to note that that all throughout the meeting I did not speak at all (as an observer) and only spoke to clarify as to why I was at the table (for plug point).
I then asked the YDP whether he wanted me to move away from the table (I was willing and ready to do that) and YDP replied by saying said there was no need to move.
At the end of the meeting, NGO Councillor Tony Chang spoke up and said that majority of councillors have no objection for me to be seated at the table but Keshminder protested.

This incident took place in full view of the pressmen and MPSJ staff. There are many witnesses around, I do not mind the enquiry as to why I was there but the manner this took place was not very pleasant. You can ask the rest of the councillors to comment since they all witnessed it. We are promoting transparency and there is no law/circular specifying that I could not sit at the table (if there was one, I did not receive it). I have no intention of pushing my way through as the ADUN, I was merely there to listen to policies being made which could affect my constituents.

Important to note :

(1) My presence at the table was with the permission of Urusetia MPSJ.

(2) I was not occupying any councillor's seat, I was at the end of the table seated on an extra chair. No councillor was deprived of a seat.

(3) I was there purely for plug point reason.

I hope this clarifies. I have more pressing issues to address in my constituency and this will not deter me from attending future full board meetings as I care for my constituency and will make all efforts to be present.