Dr Daroyah Alwi sworn in as Selangor Deputy Speaker

SHAH ALAM: PKR's Sementa assemblyman Dr Daroyah Alwi (pic) was sworn in as Selangor Deputy Speaker here on Monday (March 18).

The position became vacant after the previous deputy speaker, PKR's Paya Jaras assemblyman Mohd Khairuddin Othman, was appointed as an executive councillor in December last year.

Newly-elected Barisan Nasional Semenyih assemblyman Zakaria Hanafi was also sworn in.

After the swearing-in ceremony, the royal entourage comprising Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and Raja Muda Selangor Tengku Amir Shah entered the House for the opening of the second sitting of the 14th session of the state legislative assembly.

In his address, Sultan Sharafuddin reminded his subjects to always respect each other.

"Selangor is a prosperous and peaceful state endowed with a multi-racial community, religion and culture.

"This unity and harmony is the state's asset which has to be defended and cultivated in order to maintain the state's stability and safety," he said.

The Ruler added he expected the people of Selangor to continue preserving the state's harmony and prosperity by further strengthening the long-established unity amongst the various races and religions.

"My subjects must always respect each other and not inflame matters that touch on religion, creed, race or ancestry which can threaten harmony," said Sultan Sharafuddin.

He urged the people to use technology positively and strengthen communal unity as opposed to spreading slander and false news as well as disgracing and causing division.

Sultan Sharafuddin also said he hoped the state's elected representatives would debate productively, discuss beneficial topics, express current issues and challanges as well as present opinions that are worthy for the betterment of Selangorians.

On another matter, Sultan Sharafuddin said it had been brought to his attention that four or five rivers in Selangor have been contaminated with solid waste and toxic waste.

The Ruler urged the state government to initiate more serious enforcement against those responsible for releasing waste into the rivers.

"If there is a need, laws must be formulated to impose a heavy punishment on those guilty of contaminating rivers in Selangor," he said.

He added that communities must also be further educated through campaigns that create awareness on preserving the cleanliness of the rivers which are among Selangor's water sources.