PRESENT POINT POWER

Selangor Sultan Advises Zakaria To Resign As Councillor; October 28, 2006 16:28 PM
SHAH ALAM, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Saturday advised Datuk Zakaria Md Deros to resign from the post of Klang Municipal Council councillor to end the controversies surrounding him, including building a four-storey mansion in Kampung Idaman, Pandamaran, without seeking approval from the local authority. In a statement issued at a press conference to convey the Ruler's advice, the Sultan said if the issues and controversies that arose about Zakaria were true, then he must repent for his own good and be thankful for the blessings and positions he had enjoyed including as an elected representative who had been honoured with a Datukship.


The press conference was held by the Sultan's Private Secretary Datuk Mohd Munir Bani after Zakaria had an audience with Sultan Sharafuddin at Istana Kayangan here. The Ruler said he had actually received a lot of complaints and also sighing from certain parties that Zakaria is arrogant, rude and had hurt the people's feelings by flexing his powers vested upon him.
"As a Malay, he should be polite and courteous," the Ruler said. Asked whether Zakaria could appeal against resigning from the councillor's post, Dr Khir said: "For the moment, it's better for him to quit." Zakaria is embroiled in a controversy over the building of a four-storey palace-like mansion at Kampung Idaman in Pandamaran, Klang, without the building plan approved by the Klang Municipal Council. Earlier, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, advised Zakaria to resign from the councillor's post to put an end to the controversies surrounding him, including appointments of his family members as councillors in the same council.
Besides Zakaria, his son and daughter-in-law are also councillors of the local authority. Mohd Munir said if Zakaria failed to repent for his mistakes, he risked being stripped off his Datukship. "So far, it has not gone to that stage as Zakaria had admitted his mistakes and apologised to Tuanku," he added.
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Zakaria Must Quit As Councillor, Says Dr Khir; October 28, 2006 18:03 PM

SABAK BERNAM, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- Datuk Zakaria Md Deros must voluntarily resign as the Klang Municipal Council councillor before Nov 8, failing which, the state government will invoke the provision in the Local Authority Act to remove him, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said Saturday. He said the state government, in principle, had refused to appoint Zakaria as a councillor as he was facing all sorts of problems. However, the state government had decided to retain his son, Zainuri, and daughter-in-law, Roselinda Abdul Jamil, as Klang Municipal Councillors.
"I hope he resigns on his own accord before the state government makes a decision. "If Zakaria quits, it shows he is a responsible person upon his realisation for his mistakes. By doing so, he can protect his image and that of his family," he told reporters at his Hari Raya open house in Simpang Lima, Sungai Besar. Dr Mohd Khir said the decision not to appoint Zakaria as a Klang Municipal Councillor was in line with the proposal to allow only two family members to sit in a particular municipal council. The proposal to limit family members to sit in a particular municipal council to only two and Zakaria's resignation would be discussed and endorsed at the weekly Wednesday State Exco Meeting on Nov 8, he said. The weekly State Exco Meeting will not be held on Nov 1 as Dr Mohd Khir has to attend the Meeting of the Council of Rulers.
The policy to limit only two family members to sit in any Municipal Council was considered the best solution to the problem without 'inconveniencing other people' because there were many cases of family members being involved in politics, the Menteri Besar said. Dr Khir said Zakaria's positions as Klang Umno chief and Port Klang state assemblyman would not be affected if he resigned as councillor. Asked whether Zakaria could appeal against resigning from the councillor's post, Dr Khir said: "For the moment, it's better for him to quit." He said he was not worried about the vacancy created following Zakaria's resignation as a Klang Municipal Councillor as there were many candidates who could be considered for the post. Zakaria is embroiled in a controversy over the building of a four-storey palace-like mansion at Kampung Idaman in Pandamaran, Klang, without the building plan being approved by the Klang Municipal Council. Earlier, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, advised Zakaria to resign from the councillor's post to put an end to the controversies surrounding him, including the appointments of his family members as councillors in the same council.
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