INTERVIEW A couple of weeks have passed since former Selangor state legislative assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim was appointed to the state cabinet, but he still occupies his old office.

"I'm moving out by June 21 - that is when the new speaker is moving in," Teng said, as Malaysiakini met with him there for an interview. Judging from the pictures still hanging on the walls, it seems like the packing up is yet to be completed.

The move to the state secretariat building in Shah Alam, just next door to the state assembly complex, may not be too arduous a task for this man, who has earned respect as an independent and no-nonsense speaker. But it was not a choice easily made.

"I was doing the cleanest job before, as speaker. But as the exco (executive council) member in charge of local government, I have to deal with garbage and all these things. I'm doing the dirtiest job now," Teng quipped...