Cattle issue: S'gor MB had nothing to do with it

PKR’s Bandar Tun Razak division today claimed full responsibility for the slaughter and distribution of 46 cattle in the constituency during the recent Hari Raya Korban.

Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Bandar Tun Razak division chief Azman Abidin also said the question of Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim issuing a directive for the cattle distribution "does not rise at all".

"It is because we were the ones who applied to PKNS (Selangor Development Corporation) directly for the cattle. We informed him (Abdul Khalid) of our application because he is our MP."

Azman said this in response to Selangor Opposition Leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, who yesterday claimed he had evidence of Abdul Khalid directing PKNS to pay for the cattle using state funds.

"I contacted him directly through the MB’s office. What Khir was referring to was our application that was submitted to the MB’s office.

"But no, we did not write any letter. We just informed Abdul Khalid that we had applied for the cattle from PKNS," Azman explained.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) last Wednesday received a report by anti-graft watchdog Gerak alleging that Abdul Khalid had used state funds to pay for the cattle, worth RM110,400.

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

Abdul Khalid has denied any wrongdoing in the issue, saying the cattle was sponsored by seven associate companies of PKNS.

Today, his political secretary, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, clarified that SIC paid the Agriculture Development Corporation (PKPS) for the cattle. SIC later sent out debit notes to the other six companies.

Invoice, donations explained

Azman today pointed out that instruction for the payment of the cattle was only made after his application was approved by PKNS.

"When there is a transaction, there should be an instruction from Abdul Khalid in his capacity as PKNS chairman. So, there wasn’t any abuse of power by him," Azman said.

He later revealed that he and Abdul Khalid’s special officer Othman Karim (left) were questioned by MACC 12 hours after the report was lodged against the menteri besar.

Meanwhile, according to Bandar Tun Razak division secretary, Ishak Hamzah, PKNS made payment for cattle only after an invoice was issued by a third party, in this case PKPS.

"But that is an internal matter between PKNS and the corporation which supplied the cattle. There was an invoice but it has nothing to do with us."

Azman also said that PKNS had the right to give out donations to anybody who applied for it.

"But if I didn’t apply and Abdul Khalid gave out instructions (to distribute the cattle to his own constituency), that would be a different story," he said.

Azman lamented the need to play up the "non-issue" issue, saying, "During the handover of the cattle to mosques, surau and religious schools, even Bandar Tun Razak Umno division chief was there to receive the cattle."

Later today Gerak continued their pressure on Abdul Khalid by submitting a memorandum to the Sultan of Selangor, urging him to take action against the menteri besar's alleged corrupt practice.

The memorandum was submitted to the sultan's aide-de-camp Ahmad Ramli Kardil.