The Expensive Entitlements of A Simple Man
The Sunday Star let Khir Toyo have his say about all the allegations that came out recently about his and his family's use of state company Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad's money to go for what seems like very expensive holidays disguised as 'study tours'.
Gee, I wish I had study tours to Hawaii and Disneyland rather than, say, Papua New Guinea.
Do read the interview online because it has more in it than the one in the print version. The most complimentary thing I can say is that the guy just doesn't get it. He really does think we are all dumb and we should buy his answers as plausible.
Most of his answers are predictable enough but these answers stood out for me as being representative of what is wrong with Khir Toyo and his ilk. It was this:
Q: People are shocked by the RM1.7mil spent for the Disney trips?
A: That was decided by the management. I am actually a very simple man. I do not ask for these kind of things. Maybe they said as a chairman, that is my entitlement and they did that.
Q: You say you are a simple man but people would disagree because you fly first class and stay at expensive presidential suites?
A: You must remember when I was the (PNSB) chairman. I have my entitlement. If I were to reduce my entitlement to what an officer gets then what is the officer going to reduce to?
