Teh Yee Cheu (DAP-Tanjong Bungah) said: “If I was the chief minister, my first act would be to amend the state constitution to limit the chief ministership to two terms.”
“I need not tell you why two terms is better, I have debated on this before.
“Many have understood why term limits are in the best interest of the rakyat, and that includes Kedah assemblyman (and former MB) Mukhriz Mahathir,” Teh said in last night’s debate session on the 2017 Supply Bill.
Secondly, Teh said he would form an ombudsman’s office, to investigate complaints by the people, since the present complaint channels had weaknesses.
An ombudsman is an appointed advocate by the government to investigate the people’s complaints, mainly pertaining to administration wrongdoings.
He said although there were efforts to improve the complaint channels in previous years, there was a lack of manpower to respond or listen to the people’s grouses.
“Many have used these channels to air their feedback (to government committees), as well as in giving suggestions for the improvement of services rendered by the government.
“But it appears that these committee members cannot monitor or surveil the flurry of complaints coming in.
“At this point, it appears that they are monitoring themselves,” Teh said.
Teh also said the role of the ombudsman is needed now more than ever to monitor the nine state executive committees in the state.
He said with the recent higher than usual allocation of more than RM700 million to the chief minister’s and state secretary’s offices (CMO and SSO), it signifies the need for an Ombudsman.
The Penang government had said the large allocation was a loan to a state government development agency to build its landbanks in Seberang Prai.
“Today, all nine state executive committees are not able to play their role as an ombudsman or live up to the ‘hisbah’ (Arabic for accountable) roles that they are supposed to.
“As an example, look at the PO1 (allocation to CMO and SSO). It is the highest allocation ever.
“If (the large allocation) is focused on a certain office, it may not be good for our government.
“If I am the CM, with the help of the ombudsman’s office, we can tackle this,” Teh said.
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