Ultimatum for opposition leader

SHAH ALAM: State Opposition Leader Datuk Shamsudin Lias must resign from his position if he stands firm on rejecting the post of chairman of the state Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Selangor state assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh said the amended standing order, which was passed at the Dewan, today stated that the position must be filled by the opposition leader.
She said Shamsudin must bear the responsibility as an opposition leader and not provide excuses for declining the offer.
"The opposition leader is provided with special allowance and official car for him to do his task ... he cannot be receiving the benefit but refuse to take on the responsibility of an opposition leader," she said.
"If he refuses to be the PAC chairman, he must resign from the position as opposition leader. You cannot accept facilities and the benefits without discharging your duty," she told a press conference at the state secretariat building here.
The Standing Order 68 (1) (amendment), which was amended and passed today, states that position of PAC chairman must be filled by the opposition leader.
Yeoh added that if Shamsudin decided to step down from the opposition leader post, it is up to Barisan Nasional to elect a new leader.
"However, that person must still be elected to the PAC chairman post," she said.
Earlier, Shamsudin said he will decline the position offered to him unless the opposition is given more seats in the current seven-member committee.
"I will accept the post if majority of the seats was given to the opposition," adding that he will produce a letter to the speaker to inform of his position later.
"If the PAC members from the government refuse to take part in the committee meeting, it will reflect as if I am not capable to handle the position," he told reporters when met at the secretariat building.
The opposition was given two seats in the newly-selected committee, one for Shamsudin and another for Datuk Amiruddin Setro. The chairman seat was previously held by DAP assemblyman Ng Suee Lim.