Pakatan braces for BN assault in Selangor

By Neville Spykerman, The Malaysian Insider

In the wake of Elizabeth Wong's nude picture scandal and a statement by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that there is evidence of corruption by the Selangor menteri besar, other Pakatan Rakyat leaders are bracing themselves for what's to come next.

PKR vice-president Mohamed Azmin Ali accused Umno and Barisan Nasional of orchestrating the assault on PR to destabilise the Selangor government.

"PR leaders will continue to be targeted for ‘slanderous attacks’ from Umno and BN and we believe these attacks will continue in the coming months," said the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman.

He claimed BN was now resorting to using government institutions like the MACC and the Attorney-General's Chambers as tools to achieve its objectives.

In a statement yesterday, the MACC said there was strong evidence to show that Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had abused his powers by using state funds to maintain his personal car and to purchase cows which were distributed to mosques in his constituency.

Azmin said the MACC was practising selective prosecution and the move was clearly politically motivated.

"The MACC does not have powers of prosecution and had no right to issue statements on the outcome of investigations until a final decision is made by the A-G."

He said it was clear the statement by the MACC was aimed at influencing the A-G.

Azmin, who is also Selangor PR backbencher chairman, said the MACC should be independent and act fairly.

In a show of solidarity, Selangor PR elected representatives held a press conference today in support of Khalid.

The Selangor PR assemblymen and MPs are attending a retreat at Holiday Villa here. It ends tomorrow.