Attending State Legislative Assembly

For those who have been calling me this week, I wish to extend my apologies to all of you if you could not get me on the phone as I am now attending the Budget session of the State Legislative Assembly. The Pakatan Rakyat (PR)-led state government is tabling a budget totalling RM1.3 billion for development and administration purpose next year.

The Excutive Councillors (EXCOs) is now winding up the debates. They are expected to reply to the questions raised by State Assemblypersons (ADUNs).

Most of PR ADUNs spoke on the subjet. BN ADUNs also participated in the debate and some of them took part in the debate with preparations despite that I disagreed on most of their points. Among some of the BN ADUns who spoke with preparations were Seri Serdang, the former Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly. Even UMNO ADUN of Kuang, Abdul Shukor bin Idrus, who is also the Selangor UMNO Publicity Secretary delivered his speech with written text. I wondered whether the text was written by him or somebody else.

Yesterday, DAP ADUN for Kota Alam Shah, M. Manoharan, who was one of the five Hindraf leaders detained under ISA and was released in May 2009. He participated the debate yesterday and criticized the State Government for doing nothing to assist the Indian community. He claimed that the State Government did not contribute any allocation to Tamil schools.

I think there is a big misunderstanding.

The State Government has allocated RM4 million for Tamil schools for 2010. The same amount was also allocated last year. It cannot be true that just because the Menteri Besar did not mention it in the press, then there is no allocation for Tamil schools. The allocation is there and it is in the budget.

Another allegation was the state government continues to demolish Hindu temples. This is untrue and the government had issued a circular to all local councils last year that the demolitions of all religious structures cannot be conducted without the approval from the state authority, namely the State Executive Council.