The Selangor government has written to the Thai government requesting assistance in ensuring that forensic pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand can testify at the inquest into the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock.

“I have written to the permanent secretary (of the Thai Justice Ministry) to request (her) presence,” said Selangor MB Khalid Ibrahim on the sidelines of the state assembly sitting today.

Khalid also requested that Pornthip, a civil servant, be allowed to testify via video conferencing if she is unable to attend the inquest in person.

He also said he is “delighted” that the Malaysian government may provide the expert witness with the necessary protection if she comes to Malaysia.

On Sunday, Pornthip had also said she believes that her involvement in the inquest may have caused her to being barred from entering Kelantan, where she is investigating a case related to killings in southern Thailand.

Commenting on this, Khalid said her participation in the inquest should not affect her work elsewhere in Malaysia.  

“It should be an issue that is treated separately (and) independently,” he said.

On another matter, he told reporters that the tabling of the much-anticipated Freedom of Information (FOI) Act will be delayed yet again, and that it will now be tabled during the next assembly sitting.

The Act had been expected to be tabled at the end of last year, but was pushed to the current sitting.

Khalid said this is because several clauses still need some tweaking, including one which will deem the Official Secrets Act “irrelevant” in Selangor.

He explained that there are two schools of thought in the legal fraternity, the first of which believes that the proposed FOI Act goes beyond state jurisdiction and would violate the constitution in terms of state-federal jurisdiction.

“The second says we can do whatever we want and be prepared to be challenged in court. We subscribe to this (because the effort will be) worth it,” he said.

‘Where was BN?’

In an unrelated matter, Lau Weng San (DAP-Kampung Tunku) criticised various BN assemblypersons from Hulu Selangor for neglecting their responsibilities in the legislative assembly.

He had stood up to accept a verbal answer on behalf of Wong Koon Mun (BN-Kuala Kubu Bahru) who was absent.

However, speaker Teng Chang Khim would not allow this gesture, saying that it should serve as a lesson to all assemblypersons to attend the sitting.

Wong had submitted a question to the menteri besar about allegations of sand-theft, as well as about tax receipts from sand mining in the state.

“I stood up to receive the answer because this is an important matter and the (answer was) ready. Even the BN representatives did not stand up. Now, instead of getting an instant response, we have to wait,” said Lau.

He further hit out at Mohd Isa Abu Kasim (BN-Batang Kali), who was also absent, and Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar (BN-Hulu Bernam) for not participating actively in the proceedings.

“They should know when to participate in political activities and when to be state assemblypersons,” he said.

“I stayed until 9pm (yesterday), then rushed to (the PKR candidacy announcement in) Serendah afterwards, and I am here today.”

Lau was referring to the focus of political attention having shifted to the Hulu Selangor by-election.

Although nominations will only be filed on Friday for the polls on April 25, both BN and Pakatan have moved into high gear for the campaign. This will be the first by-election in Selangor since the 2008 general election.