You've gag enough, Khalid!

It is time to state your stand

Being a Government is about prioritising, balancing the various interests and taking a stand. Unfortunately, that is not happening in Selangor.

Is an indecisive Government and Menteri Besar the image Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim would like the Hari Raya conversation on the investigation on Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DMUC) issue by Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) to conclude?

When the investigation happened on August 3rd which is the 3rd of Ramadhan, Khalid Ibrahim did several mistakes that is unbecoming of a political leader of a state.

First, he apologise to the church without ascertaining the situation. JAIS had not submitted their report to the Menteri Besar.

Second, he imposed a gag order to suppress public officio from speaking in public which is inconsistent with the spirit his administration's effort to form Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) at the State Assembly and Freedom of Information Bill of Selangor.

Third, he is suspected of suppressing the JAIS report. This blog had revealed that the Penolong Pengarah Bahagian Penguatkuasa, JAIS had prepared a report dated August 4th, 2011 and it should be on his table by now. However, Khalid claimed he has not received a complete report.

When we raised about the ever uncomplete report and raising suspicion that there is an attempt to avoid a prosecution on Thursday August 25th, there was a same day response from JAIS citing difficulty from uncooperative group of 12 to answer questions posed to them.

Fourth and not necessarily the last, he had misused the name of the Sultan of Selangor as to have consented the establishment of a Majlis Syura whose members are himself, state mufti Datuk Tamyes Abd Wahid and his deputy Datuk Abdul Majid Omar.

It turns out the Sultan had not consented and noticably absent from the Majlis Syura is the Exco in charge of Islamic Religous Affair, Dato Dr Hassan Ali.

Khalid then dismissed his own statement and change it's status as a Hearing Committee.

The Hearing Committee was reported on Thursday August 25th to have met representatives from NGO Harapan Komuniti or event organiser at DMUC and the JAIS official. There was no news forthcoming on the meeting and the gag order seemed to be "imposed" beyond the public officio.

There is a news report stating Khalid was given initial report from JAIS.

It time he state his stand and honour his oath of office to uphold the law. The Selangor state has various state enactments against proselytisation of Muslim.

To enforce it, will not make the State Government popular with the Christian community. In turn, not enforcing the law will make the State Government unpopular with the Muslim community.

A responsible Government must choose and take a stand within the ambit of law even to the extent of being unpopular with certain segment of the population. Unlike the sugar coated political campaign and venom injected political ceramah, governing is about making hard choices.

During murtad controversies of the past, the opposition seized on the opportunity to prey on the Barisan Nasional Government's option to legislate law as indecisive. It is t! heir pre ssure that forced on the BN Government to legislate state laws consistent with the Article 11(4) of the Federal Constitution. They have the easier task as to enforce it.

Khalid had long wanted to be in Government. Now that he is in, he does not need to be reminded that enforcing the law is an integral part of governing. The Menteri Besar has to take a position, implement his position and not shirked from such responsibility.

Otherwise, Khalid is unfit to remain in office. He should resign and join the unemployment line.

No more cheap coverups, Khalid! You can tell that to Teresa Kok, Elizabeth Wong, and Dr Xavier Jeyakumar too!