The Selangor assembly's powerful rights and privileges committee has suspended state opposition leader and former menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo for 12 months from the House.

khir toyo and selangor state assembly The decision follows the Umno leader's absence from the Balkis inquiry in March and for criticising the Selangor Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) in his blog.

The privileges committee also called for the suspension of Barisan Nasional assemblypersons Warno Dogol (Sabak), Isa Abdul Kasim (Batang Kali), Marsum Paing (Dengkil) and Mohamad Idris Abu Bakar (Hulu Bernam) for six months for questioning the integrity of Selcat.

State assembly speaker and committee chairperson Teng Chang Khim announced the decision after chairing the privileges committee meeting in Shah Alalm to discuss the matter.

selangor privilleges commitee meeting on allegation against khir toyo 120509 03 "Khir is found guilty of contempt of the House in refusing to attend the Selcat hearing, and is suspended from the assembly for 12 months and his allowances would also be frozen during the period.

"However, the decision would have to be tabled at the Selangor state assembly sitting scheduled in July for it to be adopted. This includes the suspension of the four other assemblypersons," he said.

'I will challenge it'

In an immediate reaction, the former MB told Malaysiakini that he would challenge the suspension.

"I have yet to receive the letter from the committee. I have instructed my lawyers to look into the matter and we will file an application for a judicial review to challenge the order."

He said he had some time to review his options as the next sitting will only be in July.

"I expected this decision as they do not want me to criticise (the state government)," he said.

Khir said the latest development would not deter him from performing his duties as the opposition leader and vowed to continue voicing his opinions on the mistakes of the Pakatan Rakyat government.

khir toyo zaharah kechik selangor former mb 171208 On May 12, the privileges committee summoned Khir to explain his absence at the Balkis inquiry - set up to look into an alleged abuse of state funds by the organisation of BN state representatives' wives when the coalition was in power.

Balkis was headed by Khir's wife Zaharah Kechik.

Also summoned were the four BN elected representatives who had also snubbed the inquiry.

During a press conference then, Teng had revealed that Zaharah would also have to answer for her absence at the Balkis inquiry.

He said that the state government had lodged a police report against her under the Contempt of the House (Selangor Legislative Assembly) Enactment 2008.

Under the enactment, Zaharah can be punished with imprisonment up to 12 months or a fine not exceeding RM5,000, or both.

Khir had previously explained his reasons for missing the inquiry. He had claimed that it was not done in a proper manner and that it should have been held behind closed doors.