PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli has exposed email correspondence with former PKR member Zaid Ibrahim, purportedly showing Zaid had lobbied for state land.

The emails sent in 2010, when Rafizi was Selangor economic office chief executive and Zaid (right) a party member, appear to show that this was on behalf of a "client" for land in Batu and Petaling Jaya.

"It is not what you shout, but what you practise,” Rafizi told a press conference at PKR headquarters today.

"Before you (Zaid can) challenge everyone and preach on integrity and transparency, explain these two (matters).”

When contacted, Zaid, who plans to contest the Kajang by-election as an Independent against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim on March 23, said he will respond at a press conference tomorrow.

According to copies of the emails distributed to media, Zaid had emailed Rafizi on a joint venture proposal between a company and state corporation Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Bhd (KHSB).

A 26-acre parcel of land in Batu was proposed for a mixed development project involving medium-cost housing and shoplots.

It is unclear what the plans were for the Petaling Jaya land but the “client” had, according to an email, valued the land at RM160 million.

Zaid allegedly said that his client, whose identity is being withheld by Malaysiakini for now, was in a “dispute” with the state and “just need(s) Tan Sri to okay (the) proposal”.

It is believed that the 'Tan Sri' refers to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

Proposal was requested

In his reply, Rafizi said the state already has plans for the Batu land while the Petaling Jaya land belongs to several state entities, including the Selangor Islamic Affairs Council (Mais).

“Regarding (the Petaling Jaya land), the state's approach will be to invite a request for proposal (RFP) and evaluate the proposals and financial and technical criteria, so that the most profitable and iconic scheme will enter a joint venture with KHSB to develop the land.”

Rafizi also said that several state entities are embroiled in a tussle with Mais over the Petaling Jaya land.

“Our focus now is to get (Khalid) to put his feet down and get Mais to agree to the transfer of land, so that a development scheme can be done quickly.

“I suppose the interested parties can submit RFP from there on for evaluation by the state. I hope this is sufficient for the time being, will keep you in the loop,” Rafizi replied to Zaid.

Speaking to reporters at the PKR headquarters, Rafizi said the issue did not proceed from there and that the state was never in the loop as a proposal was not submitted.

He said the culture of using political clout to lobby state entities is one that Zaid had carried with him from his past life as an Umno and BN leader and this contravenes Pakatan Rakyat practices.

Rafizi also said that he chose to expose the issue after Zaid started attacking PKR on issues of integrity.

Zaid was former de facto law minister in the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration, but resigned on principle when a journalist and DAP MP Teresa Kok were arrested under the Internal Security Act.

Besides Zaid, another of Anwar's former allies, S Nallakarupan, has said he too will contest in the March 23 Kajang state by-election.

Nallakarupan was a PKR leader and is now a BN senator.