Khir and wife ordered to attend public hearing

ARCHIVES 2009

By MT Webmaster On Mar 18, 2009

(The Star) – Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and wife Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik have been called to answer in a public inquiry from March 23 to 31.

The two are among 11 witnesses asked to explain the more than RM1mil sponsorship received by the Wives of Selangor State Assemblymen and MPs Charity and Welfare Organisation (Balkis).

Zahrah was the Balkis chairman during Dr Khir’s tenure as Mentri Besar.

The historical public inquiry is called by the Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) set up under the state assembly.

Selcat chairman Teng Chang Khim stressed that those called up were termed as witnesses, and their role was to help the committee identify weaknesses to assist in improving the state administration.

Teng said the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Commission could not use information gathered at the inquiry against any of the witnesses.

The witnesses, he said, were protected by the House immunity guaranteed by the state legislation

“The outcome of the hearing will be tabled at the next state assembly sitting,” he told a press conference at the sidelines of the state assembly yesterday.

Some 200 people, comprising government officials, non-governmental organisation representatives, members of the public and journalists are expected to attend the inquiry held before the seven-member Selcat team.

The public hearing can be viewed live on the state government’s official website www.selangor.gov.my. Teng, also the Selangor Speaker, said the order to attend the inquiry had been served to all witnesses except one, currently overseas.

Three main companies involved in the sponsorships were also expected to be called-up.

Teng said Selcat had compiled evidence and called 11 meetings since it began probe into Balkis from May last year.

Besides Balkis, Selcat had also initiated investigations into the alleged hasty spending of annual allocations by previous elected representatives before the general election last year.