Johor should enact body similar to S’gor’s Selcat, says former Bekok rep

JOHOR BARU: The former Bekok assemblyman is urging the state government to emulate Selangor and set up a select committee for competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) to attract more investors.

Dr S. Ramakrishnan said Johor, along with other states, would benefit from such a special select committee.

“All states should emulate Selangor’s Selcat. Parliament has the Public Accounts Committee to monitor and evaluate financial performance and its impact and it makes sense that all states should enact similar select committees to investigate non-performance of state government-link-companies (GLCs), municipalities and agencies in utilising state assets and resources,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Jan 22).

He said Melaka had done so in November, 2018, when the state assembly enacted the Melaka Competency, Accountability and Transparency Select Committee (Melcat) to investigate similar issues via public hearing sessions.

Ramakrishnan said that Johor had already put in place regulations and a standing order committee for the formation of the special select committee during the state assembly sitting in December last year.

“However, for technical reasons, the plan was withheld.

“The purpose of this select committee is to bring in more reforms and measures by increasing the level of accountability and transparency which will in turn improve competence,” he said.

The DAP assemblyman added that such values in governance provides confidence for investors and business leaders as there would be less uncertainty and higher stability in the state administration.