Swearing-in ceremony for PJ’s new councillors called off

CONFUSION reigned at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) this morning when the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 10.30am yesterday was called off five minutes before the start.

An official from the city council came out and told the 19 out of the 23 present to disperse since the swearing in was called off due to technicalities.

The media members who were just as eager to witness the swearing-in ceremony were then told to go to the mayor’s office in the second floor.

There the mayor did not show up but MBPJ Public Relations Officer Zainun Zakaria issued a statement which said the swearing-in ceremony had been postponed on technical grounds.

“This is beyond our countrol,” the statement said. The statement also stated that the absence of four councillors had nothing to do with the ceremony being postponed.

The absent councillors were Latheefa Beebi Koya, Derek Fernandez, Tiew Way Keng and Ir. Tiong Boon Keong.

However, it was learnt that the eleventh hour decision was forced upon the council as there were objections from various quarters on the appointment of three councillors — Tang Fuie Koh and Harmony Ghani Ismail from PKR and Anthony Thanasayan (NGO).

A source from the State Secretariat said three councillors who had already been issued with the appointment letters on Tuesday evening might be dropped because of the objections.

It was also learned that Tang, a senior councillor, was not in a state executive councillor’s good book while Harmony was said to be at loggerheads with his PKR division chief for Petaling Jaya Utara.

Thanasayan is slated to be dropped due to pressure from certain NGO groups.

Another controversial figure is newcomer Norliana Mohamad, who entered the fray as a NGO.

However, a number of people had pointed out that she was a PAS member — PJS Ketua Muslimat PAS.

When asked, Norliana admitted that she was a PJS Ketua Muslimat PAS but explained that she was appointed under the NGO quota.

One councillor said PAS must make a clear stand on Norliana’s case and not deprive another NGO from getting the post.

Several other councillors told The Star, apart from the PKR duo Thanasayan should be retained as he had brought changes and benefits for the disabled in Petaling Jaya.

“Earlier PJ did not have tact tiles or special walking paths for the disabled but now we have it along the main roads. Another area that he helped to promote was the welfare of animals,” said a social activist.

She added that the state government must reconsider Thanasayan for the councillor’s post as he has a wealth of knowledge on providing benefits for the physically challenged and animal welfare.