SHAH ALAM: Two of the 300 selected as local councillors declined their appointments and withdrew from the mass swearing in of Selangor councillors yesterday.

The two, who were not named, were from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and the Shah Alam City Council.

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said they did not think they were qualified to be local councillors.

"Take, for example, the candidate from Ampang. Although there was no proof he has a criminal record, he withdrew to clear his name."

The Ampang candidate in question is at the centre of a controversy after he reportedly refused to provide a statutory declaration attesting that he did not have a record.
The New Straits Times yesterday reported that he had been dropped by the state government, and that allegations against two other Ampang Jaya local councillors, S. Supiramany and S. Sooria Nara-yanan, were unfounded.

After launching the 2008/ 2009 Session Local Councillors Conference, Khalid said under the law, after maybe five years, someone with a conviction could rejoin public service.

"The same principle also applies to members of parliament. If they are fined more than RM5,000, they cannot contest in the election. There are restrictions for those with a criminal record."

He said that although the councillors had been sworn in, the vetting process by the police and Bank Negara was ongoing.

"To help administration, we have given out the letters of appointment, but there is a clause stating we have the right to terminate, or disallow them to become councillors, if things are uncovered."

The state government, he said, was limiting the appointments of the newly sworn-in local councillors to just one year. In six months, their performance will be assessed and they will be re-appointed if they have performed well.

He added that 80 per cent of them would serve for no more than two years.

"We favour rotations, and we'd like to bring in fresh faces. We do not want it to be a permanent position."

Meanwhile, the two Ampang Jaya local councillors accused of having criminal records denied the allegations.

Sooria, who represents the Ampang Indian Community Charity Bureau, said he may have been "sabotaged" by somebody who wanted his position.

"The police will have records, if the person wants to check. As far as I'm concerned, I have no criminal record. This allegation has spoiled my reputation."

Supiramany said he was surprised to learn about the claim from the media.

"I have never committed any criminal offence and I am thankful to the state government for placing its trust in me.

"From now on, I want to concentrate on looking after my area," said the former vice-president of the Tenaga Nasional Bhd Union, who was also active in the Malaysian Trades Union Council.