D-Day for Khir Toyo in privileges panel inquiry

SHAH ALAM: Former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo who did not attend the state privileges committee inquiry in March and made negative media reports on it will know his fate next Tuesday.

A decision will be made based on his explanation yesterday over his failure to attend the Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) inquiry and attacking it in the media.

Also giving their reasons yesterday for attacking the inquiry in the media in March were assemblymen Datuk Warno Dogol (Sabak Bernam), Datuk Mohd Idris Abu Bakar (Hulu Bernam), Mohd Isa Abu Kassim (Batang Kali) and Datuk Marsum Paing (Dengkil).

In the eight-day Selcat inquiry in March witnesses had testified that millions of ringgit from the state’s business arm were squandered by Balkis, a charity headed by Dr Khir’s wife Datin Zaharah Kechik while he was in office.

Yesterday, Dr Khir told reporters after a closed-door inquiry that he was barred from making any press statements on the meeting.

“Just cannot say anything because the privileges committee chairman Teng Chang Khim has told me so,” he said.

Teng later said that he too was bound by the Standing Orders and could not reveal matters that transpired in the inquiry.

“If all of them are found guilty they could be asked to apologise, be given a warning, suspended from the state assembly or even be stripped of their salaries and allowances,” he said, adding that he had previously been suspended for 30 months during Dr Khir’s administration. (TheStar)

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RM1.7 million spent by Khir Toyo's entourage on Disneyland trip

SHAH ALAM, Wed: A Selangor Government subsidiary spent about RM1.7 million for the former Selangor menteri besar’s trip to Disneyland Paris and Disney World in Florida. Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo went on the visits with his wife, three children, and other officials. His maid is also believed to have followed them on the trips.

This was revealed on the final day of the Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency hearing into the financial affairs of Selangor Elected Representatives Wives Welfare Association (Balkis).

Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd chief executive officer Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan said RM420,000 was spent on a “technical visit” to Morocco and Disneyland Paris from Dec 17 to 24, 2004.

Dr Khir, the former PNSB chairman, also spent four days in transit in Dubai which cost the firm another RM10,000 for his accommodation.

Khairiyah said PNSB also paid RM366,000 for an advance team trip which surveyed the places before Dr Khir’s delegation went to Morocco and Disneyland Paris.
Khairiyah, who looked resigned by the questioning by Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim, said the Morocco trip was to learn about architecture and Islamic building design and Moorish art.

She said the Disneyland visit was to gain technical knowledge to develop a similar theme park in Bagan Lalang, Sepang.

For the 10-day “technical trip” to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and a visit to Honolulu, PNSB spent almost RM750,000 including US$30,000 (RM110,000 at that time) in cash for transportation and meals. Of the total, RM110,000 was for Dr Khir’s presidential suite.

Khairiyah said the group did not meet with the Disneyland management team during both visits, but bought tickets and hired a tour guide.

“You cannot gain technical knowledge from a tourist guide. Both look more like leisure trips as the dates were in December,” Teng said.

Dr Khir also went on a working visit to Jakarta and Jogjakarta from April 20 to 24, 2003, costing PNSB RM38,000, including for first class tickets for Dr Khir, Zaharah and their daughter, an economy class ticket for their maid and three nights accommodation in a presidential suite.

PNSB forked out almost RM9,000 for the maid alone.

Khairiyah said the trip was to learn about the batik industry as PNSB had been appointed to lead Selangor’s batik industry. Dr Khir travelled in a hired Mercedes Benz limousine costing RM2,900 daily.

PNSB also paid RM1,200 for traditional dancers during the welcoming ceremony. “So we welcomed ourselves?” Teng asked.

Meanwhile, Teng said Dr Khir and his wife Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik have lost the chance to explain to the public what actually happened in a state agency and Balkis by not turning up for the Selcat hearing.

Selcat, he said, will hold a meeting to discuss the testimonies and scrutinise all documents submitted during the hearing. “Then we will prepare a report to be tabled before the next sitting of the assembly in July,” he said.

Commenting on state Registrar of Societies (ROS) deputy registrar Mohd Yunus Jamil’s failure to submit a copy of the notice for a meeting to dissolve Balkis, Teng said ROS should be more cooperative.

“Since they refused to produce the documents for which any member of the public is entitled to, we have no option but to invoke Section 114 of the Evidence Act 1950 which is adverse presumption against ROS.

Section 114 states that it is presumed that facts or documents are unfavourable to the person who holds it when it needs to be produced but was not.

“In this case, the notice for a meeting to dissolve Balkis was alleged to have been sent and filed with ROS,” he said. “The fact that they refused to produce it when they could be produced means that the documents may be unfavourable to them,” he said.

(NST)
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PNSB paid for Khir's wife to visit son in Australia

SHAH ALAM, — Permodalan Negri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) chief executive officer Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan testified before the legislature today that the state subsidiary was ‘instructed” to pick up the cost to Melbourne for the wife of former menteri besar Datin Zahrah Kechik to visit their son who was studying there.

Khairiyah told the Special Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) that she received the instructions directly from Zahrah and was “told” to accompany her on the three day visit, in 2007.

Over RM14,000 was spent to purchase return business class and economy class tickets sometime in December 2007.

Khairiyah says she remembers travelling in business class with Zahrah but could not explain the discrepancies in the invoices for travel which was provided to the committee.

She admitted that the trip was not an official visit and Zahrah used the time to visit her son and to buy souvenirs.

Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who is heading Selcat’s probe into the now defunct Wives of Selangor Elected Representatives Charity Organization (Balkis), remarked that the trip may have not been official but the cost was.

However Khairiyah said Zahrah paid for the hotel accommodation while in Australia.

The startling revelations could not come at a worse time for Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who is contesting the Umno Youth chief’s in the party’s general assembly. (TMI)
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KDEB paid for flight tickets of Balkis members to go souvenier shopping

SHAH ALAM : Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) paid for the flight tickets of seven members of the now defunct Selangor assemblymen and MPs wives charity organisation (Balkis) for a “souvenier shopping” trip to Guangzhou, China on May 2007. The cost of flight tickets for one business class and six economy class seats was RM17,438, KDEB head Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar told the Select Committee on Competance, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) of the Selangor State Assembly on the first day of its probe into contributions disbursed to Balkis. Abdul Karim said the company paid more than RM206,000 for the souvenirs from China which included a few hundred stalks of artificial flowers in various colours and 2,700 hats – 900 in red, yellow and purple colours respectively. This was despite the fact that the invoice indicates that the supplier has a local branch based in Kuala Lumpur. The entire cost was absorbed by KDEB which is a state investment arm under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Abdul Karim added that KDEB had spent a total RM65,300 to buy Songket material to be given as gifts to the Sultan, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali at a function hosted by Balkis in February 2006 and about RM25,000 for souvenir chocolates. The company also paid RM100,000 for dinner organised by Balkis at the Sunway Lagoon Resort and Spa Hotel on July 24, 2007. This was a week before the association co-hosted three dinners costing RM450,000. The first two dinners on Aug 2 and 3 were held at the same venue and the third on Aug 4 was held at the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park hotel. The cost was borne by the state government with the approval of the financial officer and endorsement of the executive council (exco). Datuk Abdul Karim Munisar Grilled by the Selcat which is chaired by Selangor state assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim on Monday over these payments KDEB made under its CSR programme president Karim Munisar said: “We do not question the relevance of this as it was determined by the previous state government, and there are no criteria or guidelines. Now KDEB is under a new government and if they change the policy and stipulate guidelines pertaining CSR programmes, then we will adhere to it.” Karim was one of the four witnesses who testified before the seven member Selcat panel made up of five Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen and two Barisan Nasional representatives. The other Selcat members are Bkit Antarabangsa state assemblyman Azmin Ali, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Talha, Ulu Kelang assemblyman Shaari Sungib, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee, Dusun Tua assemblyman Ismail Sani (BN), and Permatang assemblyman Sulaiman Abdul Razak (BN). He said if the president approves the appeal for funding from organisations like Balkis then the board would have to endorse it. Asked what would happen if he had not approved it, Karim replied: “Susah lah! (that’s hard)”. Several state company representatives and their subsidiaries also admitted that they were obliged to pay for the cost incurred by Balkis saying it was a practice which they did not question. The heads and former managers of the companies said that although they agreed to pay for expenditures, the approvals were based on estimates. The final cost would be paid to suppliers based on based on bills that Balkis forwarded to the companies. Earlier during the morning session, state secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud said the CSR guidelines for state companies are determined by the companies themselves and that there was no fixed guideline. “It is for the CEOs to decide on based on their budget allocations,” he said. Ramli also denied that where the state was concerned there was no special treatment for Balkis as the organisation had to write in to ask for financial assistance if they wanted it. He said the RM450,000 contribution for Balkis dinner at the Sunway Lagoon Resort and Spa Hotel and the Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Hotel were a one-off contribution to the organisation and the state took into account the fact that the organisation was run by the wives of state representatives. Datuk Ramli Mahmud We received the endorsement of the state executive council (exco) and the financial officer to host the three events which wives of elected representatives from all 13 states in the country attended , with Balkis as the co-host, he added. Meanwhile former Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) general manager Datuk Harun Salim agreed with the committee when asked if PKNS was a “tukang bayar” (pay master) for Balkis as the association would forward its bills to the company to be paid. He said the organisation would usually forward requests to the company to sponsor some of its programmes and admitted that the company usually felt obliged to support Balkis. Harun however denied that he was concerned about repercussions if he did not endorse the sponsorships because he said his performance and the profits of the company were good. Therefore this was not a reason he took into account when approving the soponsorships. PKNS and its subsidiaries had also contributed large sums to Balkis including RM300,000 for the three dinners held on Aug 2,3 and 4. Pebadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Selangor (PKPS) Mohd Nordin Darhan who also testified before Selcat said the company had on Jan 2006 contributed RM46,000 for the officiating of Balkis complex in Section 7, Shah Alam including the cost of 150 fruit hampers for guests.

Courtesy Of Sun2Surf
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Khir and wife ordered to attend public hearing

SHAH ALAM: Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and wife Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik have been called to answer in a public inquiry from March 23 to 31.

The two are among 11 witnesses asked to explain the more than RM1mil sponsorship received by the Wives of Selangor State Assemblymen and MPs Charity and Welfare Organisation (Balkis).

Zahrah was the Balkis chairman during Dr Khir’s tenure as Mentri Besar.

The historical public inquiry is called by the Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) set up under the state assembly.

Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim stressed that those called up were termed as witnesses, and their role was to help the committee identify weaknesses to assist in improving the state administration.

Teng said the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Commission could not use information gathered at the inquiry against any of the witnesses.

The witnesses, he said, were protected by the House immunity guaranteed by the state legislation

“The outcome of the hearing will be tabled at the next state assembly sitting,” he told a press conference at the sidelines of the state assembly yesterday.

Some 200 people, comprising government officials, non-governmental organisation representatives, members of the public and journalists are expected to attend the inquiry held before the seven-member Selcat team.

The public hearing can be viewed live on the state government’s official website www.selangor.gov.my. Teng, also the Selangor Speaker, said the order to attend the inquiry had been served to all witnesses except one, currently overseas.

Three main companies involved in the sponsorships were also expected to be called-up.

Teng said Selcat had compiled evidence and called 11 meetings since it began probe into Balkis from May last year.

Besides Balkis, Selcat had also initiated investigations into the alleged hasty spending of annual allocations by previous elected representatives before the general election last year.

(TheStar)





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Azmin alleges Khir Toyo's wife visited Tokyo Disneyland on state funds

Azmin Ali: Khir Toyo's wife misused state funds for overseas holidays.

Shah Alam, - Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyman Azmin Ali today accused the wife of former mentri besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo of misusing state funds for overseas holidays, including a 2007 trip to Tokyo Disneyland.

He told the Selangor state assembly today that government records showed that the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis) headed by Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik also misused "welfare allocations" to buy clothing and accesories.

Balkis was dissolved on March 11 before Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim was sworn-in as Selangor Menteri Besar on March 13, 2008.

In 2007, state investment arm Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) recorded RM1.2 million ringgit in traveling costs which also included Balkis' technical visits, said Azmin.

He told the assembly that he has records to show Balkis made a "technical visit" to Tokyo Disneyland.

"Technical visit for what to Disneyland? Do they want to visit Mickey Mouse? If they visited industries in Tokyo and Europe, I would have still accepted it. Even if they have visited the industries in Mongolia, I would still have considered it," he argued.

The records also showed that Balkis also made "technical visits" to Korea and Hong Kong after Tokyo.

Balkis had also received a huge allocation from PNSB for welfare purposes but initial reports received by Azmin Ali showed the funds were used for the members' attires and accessories.

"What is this? If what I said are false accusations, I am willing to be brought to court," he said.

Azmin asked that a report be presented in the State Assembly on the results from the technical visits especially to Tokyo Disneyland.

He also accused PNSB of mishandling of funds and corruption in its acquisition of properties in Mecca.

The Selangor Menteri Besar's office had earlier revealed that the Barisan Nasional state government made unauthorized investments for properties in Mecca, Saudi Arabia worth RM17.5 million in 2007.

The Director of PNSB only authorized the buying of 5 units of apartments but instead 12 units were bought and they were registered under a personal name. Seven of the units were then sold back to an identified person and there was no official receipt to legitimize the transaction. (TMI)

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Teresa Kok pays for Puchong mosque speakers - Malaysiakini

PUCHONG,– She was locked up for a week on allegations of being anti-Islam but yesterday Kinrara state assemblywoman Teresa Kok donated a sum of RM10,000 to the Surau Darus Salam here for its new speaker system to broadcast the call to prayer or azan.

Kok handing over the mock cheque for the speaker to Imam Haji Harun and the surau management. Pic used with permission from teresakok.com.

The donation was in conjunction with Maulidur Rasul, for which the Seputeh MP also gave RM2,500 each to a local Islamic daycare centre and primary school.

The senior executive councillor for Selangor was accused of asking a Bandar Kinrara mosque, situated in the state seat of Sri Serdang — which neighbours her Kinrara constituency — to reduce the volume of its azan call last year, leading to her arrest and week-long detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

“This donation is in contrast to those accusations,” Kok told The Malaysian Insider today.

“Frankly, I also wanted to donate cattle to the mosque concerned in those allegations,” she said, adding that those plans have not panned out.

This comes after the Bandar Kinrara mosque authorities had itself cleared her of any involvement in the issue, but then denied her request to pay a visit. It is said that this was due to pressure by Umno who have been harping on Kok’s supposed anti-Islam stance.

Kok said the donation yesterday was due to the fact that the speaker at the surau has “not been functioning well for some months” and any balance from the RM10,000 will be used to subsidise the surau's repairs and renovations.

Kok handing over a cheque for RM2,500 to Ustaz Mohd Faizul Azmi Mat Daut, from Sekolah Rendah Islam (Seri) Nurul Hidayah. Used with permission from teresakok.com.

At yesterday's visit to the surau, Kok had stressed again that she was not involved in the petition to protest against the azan call.

Instead, she said her ISA arrest had opened the eyes of the public to the abuse of the law.

Writing in her blog, Kok quoted Surau Darus Salam imam Haji Harun as thanking her contribution and advising her to be patient against accusations by those dissatisfied with her.

Her donation follows a donation of 46 heads of cattle by Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim last year for Hari Raya Haji. But the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has said there is evidence of power abuse in that beef charity.

(TMI)

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Khir breached the Exchange Con­trol Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act in purchasing Mecca homes

SHAH ALAM: The purchase of several apartment units in Saudi Arabia by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) in 2007 may have contravened two laws.

In a statement released to the media by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad yesterday, it said the purchase could have breached the Exchange Con­trol Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

He said records showed that the PNSB board of directors had approved the purchase of five units of the property amounting to RM8.35mil.

However, PNSB had transferred RM25.6mil for the purchase of 12 units of the said property without the board of directors’ approval.

The seven extra units were then sold to an individual for RM17.25mil.

Nik Nazmi said that while the purchase was traded in Saudi Arabia Riyal by PNSB, it was sold in ringgit to the individual.

“To date, PNSB has no records indicating that the individual had obtained approval from the relevant authorities to invest in properties abroad,” he said.

“This indicates that the transaction may be illegal as individuals can only invest overseas with the endorsement from the relevant authorities.”

Nik Nazmi said the circumstances surrounding the purchase and sale of the seven properties also suggests that PNSB had aided and abetted in the alleged illegal transaction.

“We urge former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and the individual involved in the purchase and eventual sale of the properties to come forward and clear the matter in the interest of the state,” he added.

The purchase of the properties was made under Dr Khir’s name as he was the PNSB chairman at the time of the transaction.

When contacted, Dr Khir said that as far as he knew, the transaction was done according to regulations.

Nik Nazmi said the state government had now referred the matter to Bank Negara for advice to prevent the current state government and PNSB management from being implicated in the alleged fraudulent transaction. (The Star)

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MB Denies SIC Purchased Sacrificial Cows For Bandar Tun Razak Constituency

SHAH ALAM, - Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim denied allegations by People’s Anti-Corruption Movement (Gerak Malaysia) which claim he used money belonging to the state government to purchase 46 sacrificial cows during last year’s Aidiladha celebrations.

Gerak Malaysia claims allocations of RM110,400.00 were used by the Dato’ Menteri Besar through the Selangor Industrial Corporation (SIC) Sdn Bhd, said to be a subsidiary to the Selangor Agriculture Advancement Corporation (PKPS) to fund the purchase.

The organisation claims the cows were distributed to suraus and mosques in Abdul Khalid’s constituency of Bandar Tun Razak.

Commenting on the allegations, Abdul Khalid said the cows had been donated by six of Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) subsidiary and associated companies.

“It is understood that the subsidiary companies had sponsored the purchase of the cows for the constituency of Bandar Tun Razak out of a sense social-corporate responsibility and not because of orders received from anyone in the state government,” he said in a media statement here today.

Abdul Khalid’s statement was in response to allegations by Gerak Malaysia this morning which claimed he was corrupted and had abused his powers by channeling state government funds outside the state of Selangor.

Gerak Malaysia also reportedly claimed receiving documented evidence and lodging reports with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of Selangor.

Meanwhile, in a press conference after chairing the weekly State Executive Council Meeting this afternoon, Abdul Khalid said he did not know anything about the companies allegedly involvement in the purchase.

Abdul Khalid said as chairman of PKNS, he had suggested the state government subsidiary companies to distribute sacrificial cattle to every mosque in Selangor.

He said, PKNS usually obtained cattle from PKPS.

He added, there were also other companies who wanted to donate sacrificial cows to the people of his constituency.

“I suggested they donate the cattle to Cambodia, but they said they wanted to give to those here. So I suggested they do so in Bandar Tun Razak,” he said.

He explained, if he as the chairman of PKNS was to order SIC to purchase cows for distribution in his own constituency, it would definitely be a conflict of interest.

He said as someone who had previous experience in many corporations, he understood how to ensure good administrative management.

“Allocations for the state government can only be used for the state,” he stressed.

He said Gerak Malaysia should do its homework so that it would not appear to be used by certain parties for political purposes.

Abdul Khalid also stated his willingness to give full cooperation to the authorities in investigating the allegations.

Commenting on the organisation’s plans to see the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj, he said “if they have an issue, they can meet anyone… they have the right to do so,” he said. - NOOR ALLIA KASSIM

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PKR slammed Khir Toyo for self approving to purchase Merc S Class - Malaysiakini

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo had approved the purchase of a Mercedes S350L worth almost RM1 million for his personal use with funds from Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad when he was Selangor menteri besar.

This resulted in the state having to bear the extravagant purchase, said Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the political secretary to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He was responding to Dr Khir's statement who said that the RM2 million purchase of 15 Toyota Camry cars showed that the Pakatan Rakyat leaders were more concerned about their needs than the welfare of Selangor people.

The opposition leader also questioned why the purchase was not made through an open tender and the state government should focus on fulfilling their election manifesto.

In a statement yesterday, Nik Nazmi said the open tender was not used because the cars were bought at market price for RM130,000 each.


The state government received its fleet of Camry cars on Friday.

As for the state's Proton Perdana V6 cars, those below two years old would be retained and used as pool cars.

Underneath is the official statement from the State Governement about this issue :

PEMBELIAN TOYOTA CAMRY TELUS

Shah Alam – Kerajaan Negeri Selangor Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat memandang serius isu pembelian kereta Camry untuk kegunaan Exco serta Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan Negeri Selangor yang dilihat telah diputar belitkan oleh sesetengah pihak. Keputusan Pembelian Kereta Toyota Camry di buat pada Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri minggu lalu dan bukan tahun lalu kerana belum ada peruntukan ketika itu.

Merujuk kepada kenyataan Dato Khir Toyo yang dibuat dalam beberapa akhbar baru-baru ini sebenarnya telah mencerminkan keperibadian beliau serta kepimpinan UMNO yang masih berfikiran cetek. Keputusan Kerajaan Selangor membeli Toyota Camry sebenarnya dibuat adalah berdasarkan sebut harga yang dihantar syarikat kenderaan dan bukannya menerusi tender terbuka kerana harganya yang telah ditetapkan oleh Kerajaan Persekutuan.

Pembelian kereta Toyota Camry ini sebenarnya tidak menjejaskan langsung projek-projek kebajikan “Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor” yang telah dirancang kerana Kerajaan Negeri sudah mempunyai bajet untuk kesemua program berkenaan.

Segala kecaman yang dikeluarkan oleh Ketua Pembangkang sebenarnya langsung tidak berasas, memandangkan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat yang baru sahaja menerajui Kerajaan Negeri telah berjaya melakukan pelbagai program bagi “Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor” dengan cukup memberangsangkan. Lebih

jelik lagi apabila beliau sewaktu memegang jawatan Menteri Besar sebelum ini telah meluluskan pembelian kereta Mercedes S350L menggunakan peruntukan KDEB selaku pengerusinya yang berharga RM 917,214.00 semata-mata untuk kegunaan peribadi.

Adakah beliau lupa akan kos besar yang ditanggung kerajaan negeri dan anak-anak syarikat Kerajaan Negeri akibat masalah pengurusan waktu itu? Adakah beliau lupa berapa banyak keuntungan dikaut pihak pemaju swasta dalam projek-projek usahasama sedangkan Kerajaan Negeri dibelakangkan.

Rakyat Malaysia juga sudah mulai sedar dan faham dengan mainan politik murahan BN. Ketua Pembangkang seharusnya membuat kajian terperinci terlebih dahulu sebelum mengeluarkan sebarang kenyataan agar segala komen itu dilihat lebih membina daripada menfitnah dan tidak terkena ke mukanya sendiri.


Nik Nazmi Bin Nik Ahmad
Setiausaha Politik Kepada YAB Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor

(NST)

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Khir denies naming Teresa as being involved in Azan issue

Selangor opposition leader and former Menteri Besar and Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo denied naming Kinrara assemblywoman Teresa Kok as the assemblywoman involved in the azan issue.

Mohd Khir claimed he had merely said that her office had acknowledged receiving a copy of the memorandum by the residents calling for the volume of the speakers at a mosque in Puchong to be reduced.

He claimed he never mentioned Kok’s name and that it was Utusan Malaysia which chose to report it the way it did.

The matter came up when Mohd Khir was debating on the state budget which was tabled by Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

“She (Kok) knows that and that’s why she has sued Utusan and not me, because she knows I never mentioned her name,” he said.

The issue was brought up midway through Mohd Khir’s debate when Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Wen San accused the former of making wild and unfounded statements and allegations against the new state government just as he had against Kok.

Mohd Khir responded by saying that he had never named Kok. Kok then stood up to argue.

Kok: You twisted the facts that was then carried in Utusan Malaysia and this caused my arrest under the Internal Security Act. This action by YB Subgai Panjang (Mohd Khir) is not appropriate and very unbecoming and irresponsible of someone who had been a former Menteri Besar.Mohd Khir: I never mentioned your name but said that there were ‘parties’ involved in the matter. If Utusan wrote it that way- then that is Utusan. Let me explain that.
Kok: But you named me in your blog and another blog pembelamelayu.com picked up that piece. Following this, e-mails started circulating accusing me of being involved in the petition against the loud call to prayer by the mosques.

Mohd Khir then brought up the issue of Kok’s erection of signboards with road names written in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil in several areas in Kuala Lumpur to reflect the multiracial composition in the country and in protest against the Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s use of Jawi on the signboards.


Teresa Kok

Kok then stood up and said that she had already explained the issue and questioned why a matter that had happened in Kuala Lumpur was being brought up in Selangor.

“This I did after complaints from the residents in the area and this is a separate issue from the azan,” she said.

“Why are you mixing these issue up together and twisting the facts together with Utusan Malaysia?” she asked Mohd Khir.

Mohd Khir then said a journalist from Utusan Malaysia called him to ask about the memorandum asking the mosque in Puchong to reduce the volume of the loud speakers in their premises and that he had told him about the memorandum which carried a stamp of receipt by Kok’s office.

Kampung Tunku state assemblyman Lau Weng San then asked Mohd Khir if he was willing to retract the statement and apologise to Kok.

“What I said and meant in my response was that she had received the memorandum,” Mohd Khir replied.

Later when asked if he was misquoted by Utusan, Mohd Khir said: “I did not say the specific name (of the assemblywoman involved). What I said was that I received a copy of the memorandum that was also acknowledged (of receipt) by Teresa Kok’s office.”

It was stamp to acknowledge that Kok’s Kinrara office had received a copy of the memorandum, he said.

“That’s why I said Kinrara office that’s all,” Mohd Khir said.

“I don’t feel guilty, I’m speaking the fact,” he added.

In response, Kok said that she would be sending a letter of demand to Mohd Khir soon.

“It’s coming soon,” she said when asked if a lawsuit will be initiated against Mohd Khir.

Later during his debate, Ng Sue Lim (PR-Sekinchan) in wishing all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri also cited a printed copy of the allegations Mohd Khir had apparently made against Kok and pointed out the part where he accused Kok of supporting the petition.

"You accused her of supporting it here! Masyallah!" he exclaimed.

"I have been told that in Islam slander is is worse than murder, maybe the ustaz can clarify this," he added.(TheSun)

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Ronnie Liu sued Khir Toyo

Selangor executive councillor Ronnie Liu yesterday filed a defamation suit against former menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo for allegedly accusing him of being immoral and involved in vice.

Liu filed the suit at the High Court civil registry at the Jalan Duta court complex at 11.30am through counsel Gobind Singh Deo.

In his statement of claim, Liu, who is Local Government, Research and Development Committee chairman, said Dr Khir had made false and malicious statements about him, alleging that he had tried to stop local authorities from conducting a vice raid in a hotel in Puchong.

Liu said although Dr Khir did not name him, the references made in a newspaper article published on May 9, were clear he was talking about him (Liu).

Liu claimed Dr Khir said he was unfit to be a exco as he was immoral, and that he was involved in vice activities.

He added that Dr Khir's statement was baseless and irresponsible.

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Untimely gift of RM160,000 watch for Khir Toyo

What can you buy with RM160,000? An X-ray machine for one, or five low-cost homes, breakfast for 1,000 poor schoolchildren for two years and feed a hardcore poor family of 10 for almost 20 years!

However, a company owned by the Selangor government, Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB), deemed that it was better to spend the sum on a watch for its then chairman and mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

On Jan 8, PNSB paid RM159,250 for a Patek Philippe watch as “cenderamata untuk pengerusi PNSB” (souvenir for the chairman of PNSB) – Mohamad Khir at that time.

It is understood that the watch in white gold was presented to the former MB before the March 8 general election.

But Mohamad Khir returned the watch. And it was not until two months later that a buyer was found.

“When we presented the watch to Datuk Seri, he declined, saying he did not need such an expensive gift,” said PNSB chief executive officer Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan.

She said a buyer was found in March and the watch was sold for about the same price and the money banked into PNSB’s account.

What is perplexing is that PNSB deemed it fit to spend on such extravagance after posting losses of RM7.5 million in its 2006 financial year. (Companies Commission of Malaysia records show that this was its last financial returns).

But Khairiyah clarified that the company had made a profit of RM10 million and that the watch was a sort of emolument for Mohamad Khir’s “contributions”.

The purchase was not tabled for approval by PNSB’s board of directors. However, Khairiyah said that board approval was not necessary for such purchases.

“We have a certain amount for entertainment and other such expenses which can be decided at management level,” she said in a telephone interview yesterday.

The purchase of the timepiece from Sincere Watch Sdn Bhd was listed as “sundry expenses” by PNSB.

According to a Sincere sales agent, the watch was a collectors’ item from the Perpetual Calendar series, retailed at RM235,600.

The agent expressed surprise at the price PNSB paid, saying that the discount was far more than usual.

“We usually don’t give more than a 15% discount,” she said when theSun contacted Sincere’s outlet in Suria KLCC.

Meanwhile, executive councillor for health, plantation workers’ welfare, poverty eradication and caring government Dr Xavier Jayakumar expressed disgust over the “gift”.

“As an official entrusted to take care of the state, where urban poor is on the rise, I find it disgusting that one can even think of such an expensive gift.

“Do you know how many families we can help with that money?” asked the Sri Andalas assemblyman.

Khairiyah said PNSB was always careful with spending its funds.

“We are mindful that we are dealing with public money but we are also a corporation and it is not unusual for chairmen and directors to receive such benefits,” she said, adding that the purchase of the timepiece was considered “frugal” compared with other firms that dished out large cash dividends and luxury cars for its top executives.

Incorporated on Oct 15, 1990, PNSB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Selangor state government. With an authorised capital of RM100 million and a paid-up capital of RM24 million, it was specially established to take over the commercial projects of Selangor State Incorporation (SSI), involving a host of diversified activities; namely housing and property, tourism, investment, manufacturing and services.

According to its charter, “PNSB strongly believes in balancing profitability with social responsibility. PNSB is assertively assisting in the evolvement of mesra rakyat”(people-friendly) and Caring Government Programme (Kerajaan Prihatin) of Selangor.”


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