Selangor executive council member Yaakob Sapari dismissed the claim by former MB Khir Toyo that his ‘blue team' checked the spread of illegal sand mining in the state, which Khir described as ‘rampant' under Pakatan rule.

Last Saturday Khir, who is also state Umno chief, hit out at the Selangor government for disbanding the ‘blue team' enforcement unit which he said operated under his tenure and was successful in monitoring and curbing sand theft.

NONE The former MB blamed what he alleged as the rise of illegal sand mining in the state on the disbandment of the unit by the Pakatan government.

Yaakob ( left ), however, defended the state government's disbandment of the enforcement unit which he described as being ineffective in monitoring, let alone curbing the theft of sand.

"His blue team system was weak, we have improved on it. The time of the blue team is over," said Yaakob during an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini at his office in the state secretariat building in Shah Alam today.

In fact, Yaakob who is also Kota Anggerik assemblyperson, said prior to 2008 during Khir's tenure as MB and when the ‘blue team' enforcement unit was in operation, the sand mining situation in the state was much worse.

"Sand mining in Selangor was not structured, there was no clear mining procedure, the theft of sand was rampant," he lamented.

‘Holes in state made by BN'

If there are any ‘holes' in the state made by sand mining, Yaakob believes that it was made during the time Khir was MB.

azlan "Huge holes were made at the time of the BN government. The amount of sand mined was huge, but the returns were meagre".

Yaakob, who is the executive council member in charge of natural resources, said that this is why when he confronted the former MB and other Umno representatives in the state assembly, they can't answer him.

"(This is because) the damage was done in their time," said Yaakob, holding up pictures of gaping sand mines he alleged were created during Khir's time in office.

The PKR elected representative stressed that Khir should know that he already had his chance at governing the state, but the people had voted his government out for his excesses.

"He should know that once the water flows, the sand will change."

NONE Khir's ( left ) tenure, which was full of corruption, is over, said the executive council member.

"I question how state exco members previously lived a life of luxury and wealth during Khir's time and how the former MB can build such a big and opulent house. The people know, they can see for themselves how their MB lived."

This, he said, is what Pakatan is trying to change. Yaakob likened the change to what occurred when the Prophet Muhammad came into his own.

He said that the teachings of Muhammad then superseded those of the Prophet Isa, similar to Pakatan policies overriding those of BN and Khir.

"Don't be nostalgic over what you already did," was Yaakob's advice to Khir.

‘No Disneyland in Selangor'

Quizzed about the new policy of giving away 10 percent of Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd's (KSSB) profits directly to the local village security and development committees (JKKKs), Yaakob said that this was a policy to share the riches of the state with the people.

NONE The money he said, was from KSSB's profits and are not from the royalties which are paid to the state. It is given to the JKKK which form the frontline in the war against illegal sand mining and this will ensure the money is spent for the good of the rakyat.

"This is different from the previous practice of using state money for Khir's wife to go overseas. At least this time the rakyat get the money. What FDI do we get from the former MB's overseas visits to Morocco, to Disneyland. I do not see a Disneyland in Selangor," he sniped.

VIDEO | 8 mins