Pakatan nominates Teng as Selangor Assembly Speaker

SHAH ALAM, SUN: April 20, 2008 by Bernama

Pakatan Rakyat, the ruling coalition in Selangor, has nominated Sungai Pinang state assemblyman Teng Chang Kim of the DAP as the speaker of the state legislative assembly.

It has also nominated Taman Medan state assemblyman Haniza Talha of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as the deputy speaker, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim announced at a news conference.

He said their forthcoming appointments would create history for Selangor, with Teng becoming the first non-Malay speaker in a state governed by a Malay Ruler and Haniza becoming the first woman deputy speaker of a state assembly.

Teng, 45, is a lawyer and has his own law firm, Teng Chang Kim & Co., in Klang. He had been the Bukit Gasing assemblyman (from 1995 to 1999) and Bandar Klang assemblyman (1999-2004) and has been the Sungai Pinang assemblyman from 2004.

Teng has also been DAP Socialist Youth chief and now is a member of the party’s central working committee.


Haniza, 46, a design graduate from Sheffield University, United Kingdom, is the Wanita PKR vice-chief and Selangor Wanita PKR head. She is a first-time assemblyman.

The Selangor state legislative assembly is scheduled to have its first sitting on Tuesday.

Abdul Khalid said he believed the state assembly proceedings would be conducted in a professional manner and the people would get adequate information on the discussions on state laws and policies.

Teng thanked the Pakatan Rakyat leadership for the trust placed in him, and said he would have to give up his law practice, as required by the state constitution, if he was appointed the speaker.

Asked if he was satisfied with the position offered to him as it had been mentioned that he would be made a deputy menteri besar and an executive councillor, Teng said he preferred not to talk of the past.


Replying to a question, Teng said he would be fair to all assemblymen.

“Previously, we (then in the opposition) had been accusing Barisan Nasional (BN) speakers of being unfair in the assembly. We cannot do the same thing now.

We do it differently. They (assemblymen) can be assured that they will be treated fairly,” he said.

Teng said the new Pakatan Rakyat government had to set a good example of administering a state and conducting state assembly proceeedings.

Haniza said her nomination was an honour to women.

“I will do my best as the deputy speaker and ensure quality debates. There are many ways to improve debates, not just rhetoric but addressing the real issues,” she said.