After rejecting the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson post several times, Mohd Shamsudin Lias has eventually decided to step down as Selangor opposition leader.

He submitted his resignation letter to state assembly speaker Hannah Yeoh after returning his Toyota Camry to the state government this morning at the Selangor administrative building in Shah Alam.

"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," he told reporters, adding he made the decision based on the principle of "integrity".

In his letter of resignation, Lias said his decision was to show respect for the state laws that made it compulsory for the opposition leader to hold the post of PAC chairperson.

Lias repeatedly refused to head the state PAC, an offer made to him last November before it was eventually made a law in the state assembly.

Yeoh was reported last week as telling Lias that he should resign from the opposition leader post if he refuses to comply.

Lias, meanwhile, was reported as complaining that it was unfair that BN did not have a majority in the committee with its two representatives.

“According to the 68(1) standing order of the Selangor state assembly, which was amended on Dec 4, 2014, the opposition leader is obliged to hold the post of PAC chairperson.

"In order to respect and follow the said decision, I announce my resignation as the Selangor opposition leader effective immediately,” read Lias' letter.

'BN would be a puppet'

He said that if he took over the post, BN would only have one representative in the PAC and become "puppet".

"If we are appointed , the power is still in the hands of Pakatan Rakyat. It seems that the appointment of PAC chairperson from BN will only be a puppet. What is the meaning of a post without power?

"I don't have a choice - whether I defend my principle of integrity or accept the offer, which only has nominal power.

"But my hand would be tied and I would be forced to obey  once becoming the chairperson," he stated.

After Sekinchan Adun Ng Suee Lim stepped down from the PAC chairperson post, the seven-member committee consisted of five Pakatan reps.

Lias stressed this was a personal decision and the BN leadership "did not object".

Asked whether the next opposition leader would accept the PAC chairperson post as it is compulsory, he replied: "You have to ask my friend who (will) take over."

He added that a meeting would be called shortly to decide on his successor.

‘Ratio of Dewan should be reflected’

In a press conference later, Selangor speaker Hannah Yeoh ( right ) confirmed that she has received the resignation letter from Shamsudin.

“I respect his decision to resign as the opposition leader. I would like to express my gratitude for his service as the opposition leader since June 2013.”

However, she rebutted the claim that the composition of PAC is biased to one side and not reflective of the spirit of democracy.

According to standing order 72(1) of the Selangor state assembly, the composition of each selective committee should reflect the ratio of each party in the assembly, she stated.

“The same practice also is adopted by other commonwealth countries’ parliaments, such as Australia, United Kingdom, India and New Zealand,” she added.

Currently, the Selangor state assembly has 56 assemblypersons, 43 from Pakatan Rakyat, 12 from BN and one Independent.

Explaining the rationale for such practices, Hannah Yeoh pointed out it has practical reasons.

“We have 10 select committees, and we have only 12 opposition members, if  they want to be the majority in all committees, four out of 12 of them must sit in every select committee, and our committees are very active, some having meetings every week. Attendance would be a problem. And we cannot have all committees with only BN assemblypersons.

“This is not something that we came up with ourselves, this is in accordance with Commonwealth countries and their practices," she said.

Stressing that “it’s a duty, not an option” for the next opposition leader to take the PAC chairperson post, she urged BN to elect its opposition leader immediately,

“You have to have a opposition leader. You can’t have 12 opposition members in the assembly without an opposition leader,” she said.