In layman term, councillors are appointed to serve the people in the local council, to uphold the laws and most importantly, showing good example as a leader to the people.

Unfortunately, this is not the case we’re witnessing in Klang Municipal Council, to say the least. The councilor in hot soup, Zakaria Md Deros is embroiled in a controversy over the building of a four-storey palace-like mansion at Kampung Idaman in Pandamaran, Klang, without the building plan being approved by the council he is serving at.

Zakaria, who is also the Klang Umno division chief, blamed his architect for not getting approval from the municipal council, as according to the Selangor MB Mohd Khir Toyo, who was quoted as saying that the system lets law-breakers become councillors(?). There you go, a very good example of poor leadership.

"In the regulations, it does not say that people who break the law cannot be appointed as councillors. We appoint councillors according to party positions.

Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, ordered Zakaria to resign from the councillor’s post to put an end to the controversies surrounding him, including the appointments of his family members as councillors in the same council. If Zakaria failed to repent for his mistakes, he also risked being stripped off his Datukship.

"As a Malay, he should be polite and courteous," the Ruler said.

On Tuesday, Zakaria cried out loud during a press conference, admitted the mistake he made, however remain defiant on calls for him to step down as a councillor and pleading the media to stop criticising him. He also said it’s reasonable(?) for him to build a house large enough to accomodate his family.

"I had not the slightest intention to show off and be pompous, what more to build a house described as ‘Istana Datuk Zakaria’ as published in the media," he said.

Zakaria said he has 11 children, seven sons- and daughters-in-law and 11 grandchildren living with him and noted that the family could continue to grow.

He said it was therefore only "reasonable" for him to build a suitable house to accommodate the large family.

Who cares as long as you have the permit? Who cares as long as you comply to the law? Who cares if you come clean and the entire brouhaha was the work of the Opposition to discredit Zakaria as alleged by Klang Umno division?

Just wondering, why did it need the role of a Sultan for someone like this to be reprimanded or punished? Why can’t the other politicians or ministers, keep these in check? Why could they not have taken any action in the first place?

Could it be because it is so prevalent that our politicians feel that they are above the law? Or is it because they feel that "everyone else" among their peers is doing it, hence it makes it right?

Or just like Pak Lah says: God knows?

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