AUGUST 6 — Dear Hannah Yeoh,

One of the nights in Subang Jaya just before the 13th General Election, I was there with my friends listening to your ceramah just to understand what “UBAH” was about, who Hannah Yeoh was and what does she believe in. After listening to those in Barisan Nasional, yours was indeed different and new. It crossed my mind immediately that you had the “emotional connect” to the youths because of your age factor.

 As young voters, we only had two considerations before we cast our votes. That is integrity and talent.

It was you, Hannah, that Selangorians had faith in when you said “I will do my part in the state assembly to make sure that we fight corruption until the very end”. It was in you, Hannah, that Selangorians saw a future when you said “I am always encouraged when I see young people rise to the challenge and take ownership of the future of Malaysia. Now is the time for change.”

It was akin to Obama’s “Yes, we can” rally on the night he won the elections to be America’s first black President. True enough, despite your cliché political slogan, you won the elections in the 13th General Election and you even created history when you became the first woman Speaker in Selangor’s State Assembly. You were just 34. Well done!

This is something that can never be seen in Umno or Barisan Nasional nowadays. Most 34 year olds in Barisan Nasional will be tasked to merely make up the numbers in events. Shame on them.

Fast forward 14 months to today, the faith that many initially had in you and in the rally to “UBAH” has turned to doubt. When the Selangorians’ doubts overcome their faith in you, their faith will continue to fade away.

In late 2013, when Pakatan Rakyat was condemning the Federal Government for the rising cost of living, the Selangor State Government made a political blunder by increasing the salaries of the Mentri Besar, elected representatives, executive council members, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Your salary increased from RM6,109.29 to RM22,500. You were one of those who stood up to defend Khalid Ibrahim, for reasons that are too obvious.

Twitterjaya was shocked in Feb 2014 when the war between camp Azmin Ali and camp Khalid Ibrahim broke out. Rafizi Ramli, who said Khalid Ibrahim was employing third parties on vague social media contracts, rocked the clean, transparent image of the Pakatan-led Selangor Government. I stand corrected but I don’t see or hear SELCAT taking any action on this.

Earlier this year, SELCAT decided to spend some time to hear why PKR deputy president Azmin Ali was removed from the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) board. Two months ago in June, SELCAT concluded that the committee found no proof that Azmin had been sacked from PKNS. That is just shocking. We spent public funds to resolve political mess and how can someone get confused whether or not he or she has been sacked? Surely, SELCAT has better things to do.

In the same month, SELCAT was reported to have said that the committee was satisfied with hearing on safety of mining pond water. Today, people remain wary of this and experts have called for the quality of water in mining pools to be inspected regularly. No one can deny that water from mining pools contain harmful materials, including metal and toxic substances. Ask Klang MP Charles Santiago, your colleague. If not for him championing the water issue in Selangor, most of us would not have known so much.

The straw that broke the camel’s back was on August 4th, 2014 when PKR Secretary General Saifuddin Nasution said Khalid Ibrahim’s integrity will be questioned when PKR releases the 50 page report. If Saifuddin Nasution who is not part of the State Government administration has 50 pages of dirt, I can only say that it is impossible that you didn’t know about the deals and happenings in the Selangor State Government.

Rise, Madam Speaker! Stand up to be the person you portrayed to us during your political talks. Walk the talk on Competency, Accountability and Transparency. SELCAT must not meow but roar or it will be the last straw that will break the people’s faith, trust and confidence in Pakatan Rakyat Selangor.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.