All Selangor reps to declare assets soon?

All Selangor state assemblymen would be required to declare their financial interests and assets should a proposed amendment to its Standing Orders be approved.

Its Standing Orders committee chairman, Hannah Yeoh said with the amendments, the House Rights and Privileges Committee has the power to order any assemblyman to submit their declaration.

She explained that for the time being, the declaration of assets is only applied by the committee on the chairpersons of the State Exco.

"So, we want to add allocation for the Privileges Committee to see and consider the declarations of financial interests of all assemblymen.

"At the moment, assets declaration in Selangor only applies to Exco members. The amendment is being done for us to improve Selangor's democracy system and governance of the State Assembly," she told a press conference at the State Assembly lobby here today.

In addition, Yeoh said, apart from the amendment to the Privileges Committee, the item on Opposition Leader’s speech was also included for the first time in the assembly’s Order Paper.

“One of the amendments we are going to introduce in the Legislative Assembly Standing Orders is the Opposition Leader’s speech.

“At the moment, there is no special slot for the Opposition Leader to give his or her speech.

“Now, the Opposition Leader only speaks during the debates or files a motion and it depends on the discretion of the Speaker,” she said.

Thus, Yeoh who is also Selangor Speaker, viewed the amendments as making the state government more transparent and progressive compared to other states.