Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo must seek a cure for his inept decrees.

On several occasions, his reckless dispensing of authority and power as the head of the state government did not go down well with the people and their leaders. Worse, his words and actions hurt the rakyat 's feelings and it took time to heal the wounds.

Last December, Khir gave those food and beverage outlets and restaurants not licensed to sell alcoholic drinks three months to take down all signboards that carry beer logos. He said such signboards could give tourists the impression that Selangor is a haven for boozers.

His decree created a ruckus. The Federated Chinese Associations of Malaysia (Hua Zong) described the directive as inappropriate for a multi-cultural country. Both mainstream Chinese newspapers, Sin Chew Daily and Nanyang Siang Pau , responded with stinging editorials questioning his motive, and his lack of consultation within the state executive council and with the affected communities, particularly non-Muslims.

In stark contrast, Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali was quoted as having given his guarantee that such a policy would not be adopted in Perak.

As the heat of public opinion escalated, Khir resorted to his hallmark of twists and turns. From the initial blanket banning of beer-sponsored outdoor signboards, he meandered to taking objection to the indoor posters of scantily-clad women advertising liquor products. The loose cannon in him finally came full circle in pinpointing enforcement of licensing rules at the local government level.

No doubt, the Chinese community has had age-old affinity with a beer culture. However, it must also be realised that the top two breweries in Malaysia are also instrumental in raising funds for vernacular schools for buildings, facilities and IT projects through the proceeds of beer-sales or sponsored concerts and merchandising. By targeting the common denominator among the business communities, Khir risks colouring the socio-cultural fabric of non-Muslims and incurring the wrath of the masses.

Last July, Khir was embroiled in verbal sparring with another community when he short-circuited himself by blaming MIC for its inability in solving the Indian gangsterism problem in Klang and Petaling Jaya. MIC president S. Samy Vellu subsequently went to the media and blasted him for pitting MIC against the All Malaysian Indian Progressive Front over social problems plaguing the Indian community.

Khir wriggled his way out by saying he was misquoted by the press. The rhetoric made its rounds, Khir regained his moral high ground but the gangsterism issue simmers on.

Looking back further, Khir went on record in October 2001 as saying that the state government had identified 30 Hindu temples for demolition. The issue became acute after the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) demolished the Sree Veera Bathra Kaliaman temple in Bandar Sunway when the Hindus were in the midst of observing the 10-day Navarathri period of fasting and prayers. It was seen as an act of insensitivity to a minority group.

Again, Samy Vellu was obliged to express his displeasure on behalf of the community. However, Khir rationalised that there had been complaints the state had too many temples that were located too closely together.

Khir said the state's policy is that a place of worship can be built in an area if there are between 2,500 and 5,000 followers there. "The ratio is the same for every religion. We are only going by the book," Khir was quoted as saying in The Star .

Interestingly, we don't see new churches being built in places like Subang Jaya and Shah Alam, but the stand-off with MIC at least earned the 30 temples targeted for demolition a three-month reprieve, which remains perpetual till today.

What more can Khir do in attempting to live up to his cliche of "going by the book"? Will the day come when he decrees the closing of all gaming outlets, as excessive presence of the 4G, Big Sweep and Sports Toto signboards could, based on Khir's rationale, give the impression that Selangor is a haven for gamblers?

The lessons learnt from Khir's latest antics over beer logos is that the process of mesra rakyat (people-friendly) and consultation he preaches has been bleached. He seems to favour form and rhetoric over substance, and it appears that he does not hesitate to flaunt his power and authority whenever he pleases.

For now, Khir may think he wears the emperor's new clothes and his decree shall rule the day. But in the short history of Selangor in Malaysia, it's evident that the state carries the Menteri Besar, never the other way round.