Mohd Khir: I have evidence against S'gor MB

Selangor Opposition Leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo today claimed that he had in his possession a copy of a letter from Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s office ‘instructing’ the purchase of 46 cattle to be distributed in Bandar Tun Razak last December during Hari Raya Korban.

Revealing this at a press conference in Shah Alam, the former menteri besar also said he was "disappointed with Khalid for having no knowledge of the cattle distribution to the constituency and denying giving out instructions" to pay for the cattle worth RM110,400.

"Actually, we have document evidence showing that Khalid had indeed given out instructions to pay for the cattle," he said.

Yesterday, anti-graft watchdog Gerak had lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Abdul Khalid, who is also MP for Bandar Tun Razak, for allegedly abusing state funds.

In the report, its president Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus had alleged that the menteri besar had purchased the cattle with funds from a state agency, namely Selangor Industrial Corporation Sdn Bhd.

Yesterday, Abdul Khalid slammed the allegations against him, stressing that he had never used state funds to purchase the 46 cattle and had "no knowledge" of the existence of the state agency.

Mohd Khir, however, today alleged that the letter was an official one from the menteri besar’s office and addressed cattle distribution in surau, religious schools and mosques in Bandar Tun Razak.

The letter was allegedly signed by the menteri besar’s secretary-general and addressed to the chief executive of the Selangor Development Corporation.

Dated Nov 27, 2008, it also allegedly has a handwritten note dated Nov 28 saying that payment should be made.

"I even have the copy of the invoice and the receipts for the purchase of the cattle," said Mohd Khir, adding that the receipts were dated Dec 16, 2008.

Although he did not distribute copies of the letter to the media, the former MB added that he received the documents via post two days ago. He also claimed that MACC had "ransacked" Abdul Khalid’s and the PKNS office on the same day.

Meanwhile, Selangor PKR Youth today called the latest ‘controversy’ a "conspiracy" to overthrow Abdul Khalid and at the same time, tarnish new PKNS chief executive officer Omar Othman’s image before he takes over on Feb 2.

"It looks like there are culprits in PKNS itself who are trying to trap the menteri besar, who is also the PKNS chairman," said Selangor PKR Youth information chief, Mazli Saring in a statement issued today.

The ‘plot’, according to Mazli, was real and he was informed of its existence by several PKNS staff recently. However, he refused to reveal further details.

"I do not want to reveal it to you now. Otherwise, we would not have anything to say against them in the future. Let this statement serve as a warning first," he said when contacted.

"We will reveal this unhealthy political game being played by irresponsible quarters if the situation persists," he added.