Khir will go to court if banned by house
(NST) KLANG: Former Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has vowed to challenge in court any decision to suspend him from the state assembly.
He told the New Straits Times that he was looking at all possibilities and would contest the decision made by the privileges committee of the state assembly if he felt it was unfair.
"I will have to wait and see what they decide first before making my next move. I will also consult my lawyers," he said.
The privileges committee is due to meet tomorrow to deliberate on what action to take against Dr Khir and four other Barisan Nasional assemblymen.
The five were hauled up last week by the committee for allegedly criticising the assembly's integrity.
If found guilty, they can be suspended without pay or could just be let off with a warning.
The other assemblymen are Datuk Warno Dogol (Sabak), Mohd Isa Abu Kasim (Batang Kali), Datuk Marsum Paing (Dengkil) and Datuk Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar (Hulu Bernam).
Among the charges Dr Khir faced were disrespecting the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) by not attending its hearing and questioning its validity.
The other assemblymen are accused of issuing statements criticising the committee.
The Selcat hearing was about the affairs of the de-registered Selangor Elected Representatives' Wives Welfare Association (Balkis).
During the hearing, the committee was told of the millions of ringgit allegedly squandered by state subsidiaries to fund Balkis and also of overseas trips for Dr Khir, his family and even maids.
Dr Khir's wife also faces action under the Contempt of the House Enactment 2008 for failing to appear before Selcat.
The decision on whether to prosecute her lies in the hands of the attorney-general.
Warno Dogol is one of the two BN assemblymen on the privileges committee but he will not be allowed to exercise his right to vote in this case. The other is Kuala Kubu Baru assemblyman Wong Koon Mun.
The other members are assembly speaker Teng Chang Khim, deputy speaker Haniza Mohamed Talha, Hannah Yeoh (Subang Jaya), Gan Peh Nei (Rawang) and Dr Shafie Abu Bakar (Bangi).
