Khalid blasts Khir, the 'illegal sand miner'
Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has hit back at his predecessor and state Opposition lLeader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, calling him a “retired illegal sand miner” and a "thief".
Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has hit back at his predecessor and state Opposition Leader Mohd Khir Toyo, calling him a “retired illegal sand miner” and a "thief".
Asked at a press conference about the former MB’s allegations - that the state-owned Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) has paid the current state government a lot less in royalties compared to that reaped by the previous administration - Khalid (left) found some choice words.
“Khir Toyo knows every detail. I think he must be in the business before - most likely in the illegal one. And I don’t want to comment on a ‘retired illegal sand miner’,” he said.
Khir was reported by another online portal to have said that KSSB had only paid RM12,000 in royalty to the state despite collecting RM734,000 in revenue last year.
To that, Khalid said that he should look at himself and calculate the amount of royalties received by the state when he was an MB.
“Now (Khir) knows all sorts of ways to cheat. Oh that’s good. But illegal mining is an example of how a thief will always look for other things. It’s a sad story, but a good story,” said Khalid.
In the meantime, the state government stands by their figures of royalty paid in 2009 which totals RM13.76 million, including profits, while pointing out that Khir’s administration only pocketed RM4.29 million in royalty in 2007.
'Chua Soi Lek shallow'
Khalid’s administration continued its attack on its political detractors, calling MCA president Chua Soi Lek “shallow” and “ignorant”.
Chua had previously hit out at the Pakatan government, saying that they should explain their “failure” to deliver the RM150 million from the sale of sand they had promised in their 2008 general election manifesto.
It prompted the DAP iron lady and senior exco member Teresa Kok (right) to lash out at the former health minister, saying that he should be the last to talk about financial management of the state government in sand mining, considering that he has yet to sort out the Port Klang Free Zone fiasco ignited by past MCA leaders.
“He does not know anything about sand mining. He just wants to garner support from the Chinese community, who have deserted Barisan Nasional,” she said.
Syabas told to standardise
In the meantime, Khalid revealed that he has asked the state water supplier Syabas to standardise the water tariffs for individual meters as well as the bulk meters, so that everyone can enjoy free water.
At the moment, the state government gives out free water for the first 20 cubic metres of water every month to those with individual meters. However, those with bulk meters - common in high rise apartments - are charged RM16 for the first 20 cubic metres under the low cost flats category, and RM27 for those outside the category.
“We want to ensure that everyone in Selangor, regardless of category, will enjoy free water,” he said, thumbing his nose at claims that the state will have to face water rationing by 2014.
