I refer to the Malaysiakini report Khalid: No changes to Selcat .

It is indeed a praiseworthy effort by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat administration to establish Selcat (Special Select Committee On Competency, Accountability and Transparency), a public watchdog meant to promote efficient, accountable and transparent public service and good governance.

It is an initiative that should be applauded by all Malaysians who support and aspire further democratisation of the country. Indeed this noble effort should be also be emulated by all other state governments.

Such public watchdogs would ensure public servants and agencies function in the best interests of the people and public funds are spent in a responsible manner. Indeed Parliamentary Select and Standing Committees are indeed a key feature of advanced and mature democracies.

Unfortunately, however, as in many aspects of life, noble intentions do not necessarily always translate into noble deeds. Rather than promoting accountability and transparency, Selcat appears to have been hijacked to serve the personal and political agenda of certain Pakatan leaders.

It is indeed a pity that Selcat’s similarities and resemblance to the parliamentary committees of the First World democracies extends only to its name as everything else about this watchdog goes against the very essence and spirit of democracy, due process, fair trial and natural justice.

In certainly worrying that Selcat shares far more commonalities with the secret police and military courts of the totalitarian regimes and dictatorships than its parliamentary brethren of the First World. There are serious concerns on the legality, composition, conduct, process, case selection as well as its terms of reference.

Firstly, the composition of Selcat itself is a mockery of the parliamentary committees of the First World. Under the Westminster system, their committee is made up of an equal number of ruling and opposition members to ensure a fair and bi-partisan investigation and decision-making.

Selcat on the other hand has seven members; five from the ruling Pakatan coalition and a token two from the opposition Barisan National (BN). Such a lop-sided membership arrangement certainly lends credence to accusations that the committee is merely a tool to legitimise the political agenda and actions of Pakatan.

Secondly, the roles and conduct of Selcat itself are at odds with its stated objectives. Select committees in the First World focus on existing practices and processes in order to enhance and finetune them. In Selangor, Selcat had been focusing solely on the allegations of wrongdoings of the previous BN state government.

This is tantamount to a political witch-hunt and a sets a very dangerous precedent. Even if the previous administration are suspected of dubious practices and abuses of power and public funds, the only fair method to judge these allegations would be an impartial panel of eminent persons with impeccable reputations and unquestionable integrity. Certainly not their political opponents.

Selcat also seems to have veered way off course when it inquired into areas well outside its terms of reference and into those within the jurisdiction of the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and the police.

The suspension of Mohd Khir Toyo, the state opposition leader and four other BN assembly persons for a period of six to 12 months is an unprecedented and a highly undemocratic move that one only expects in a banana republic - not in a state administrated by a political coalition committed to the highest ideals of democracy.

Many Malaysians voted for Pakatan in the 12 ^th general election for their promise to usher in a new era for the country with their commitment to enhance human rights and democracy.

However, their record in delivering these promises has been wretchedly poor. As seen in Penang and Selangor, Pakatan leaders have been indulging in endless political infighting and meaningless finger-pointing than attempting to rule these states better than the administrations they replaced.

Unless these Pakatan state governments start to deliver on their electoral promises, they can expect the rakyat to vote with their feet and show them the door in the next general elections.