Leaders and supporters of opposition parties, who claim to advocate freedom of speech and democracy, should be more open to criticism.

noh omar statement in paper parliament pc 301105 ignorant Selangor Umno deputy liaison chief Noh Omar said it surprised him when there were quarters who wanted action to be taken against Selangor PAS commissioner Dr Hasan Mohamed Ali for criticising the state's Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency's (Selcat).

The call for action be taken against Hasan, including that he be stripped of his post as state executive councillor was a disregard for the principles of democracy and freedom of speech which Pakatan Rakyat claimed to advocate, he told reporters at the Umno Tanjung Karang open house today.

An embarrassment to civil servants

hasan ali umno pas selangor talk quality hotel 300708 01 The issue came to light when Hasan criticised the procedures used by Selcat in questioning state government officers over the RM500,000 allocation for each assemblyman under the Barisan Nasional government prior to the March 2008 general election.

He said the methods used were degrading and affected the dignity of the people being questioned, which remarks irked his Pakatan colleagues who told him to toe the line or leave Pakatan.

Noh said that it would be an embarrassment if the state government officers were questioned openly on the matter.

- Bernama