Wangsa Maju’s Wee to quit PKR
Wee is expected to announce his decision soon. When contacted, Wee who once again criticised the handling of the corruption claims against Selangor-government owned Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd by its Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, described it as another flip-flop move and it was done in bad taste.
The Malay Mail
Wangsa Maju Member of Parliament, Wee Choo Keong is set to quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Wee who has been vocal against Pakatan Rakyat leadership and embroiled in major criticisms against the party’s motives told The Malay Mail this morning : “I am compelled to call it a day.
“As this matter involves principles, I am compelled to do this,” he said.
Wee is expected to announce his decision soon. When contacted, Wee who once again criticised the handling of the corruption claims against Selangor-government owned Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd by its Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, described it as another flip-flop move and it was done in bad taste.
“Looking at the sequence of events, the company is now threatening to sue Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam who yesterday lodged a police report against several of its directors. They (Kumpulan Semesta’s directors) stayed silent and were running away until yesterday.Why?” asked Wee who stressed that this was all a big cover-up.
Wee said he cannot help but come to a conclusion that this was an attempt to hide the sand-mining scandal.
“I am extremely disappointed and frustrated with Pakatan’s leaders for being silent on this whole issue. It is baffling because these leaders who are normally vocal on literally everything are suddenly not saying a single thing,” he said.
Wee added Pakatan, a party which stresses on transparency, surely must be consistent with its stand.
“The wrong done by others are criticised while their own are conveniently swept under the carpet. I have basically lost faith in Pakatan’s leadership,” said Wee, describing it as “cakap tidak serupa bikin” by the leaders of Pakatan as everything is full of inconsistencies.
“This is extreme politicking and it seems that everything was done without having the public’s interest in mind.”
On his decision to quit, Wee did not deny the fact that there may be more resignations from Pakatan members citing the same reason of losing faith in the party and its leadership.
Wee, who yesterday chastised Khalid over the “mishandling” of the corruption allegations against Kumpulan Semesta, alleged that Khalid had not acted despite claims raised by his PR colleague Gobind Singh Deo in February.
In a scathing posting on the issue on his blog, http://weechookeong. wordpress.com, Wee said he was “far from happy with the way Khalid is handling the issue”. Wee said that he was told two highranking elected representatives in the State government and several Kumpulan Semesta officials were involved in the scandal involving many millions of ringgit belonging to the people.
He also claimed that instead of setting up an independent body to investigate the allegations, the MB openly challenged Manikavasagam to name the culprits and lodge a police report.
Wee was also among the 12 PKR MPs to come out in support of Manikavasagam’s stand on the issue.
Last Saturday, Manikavasagam made the exposure after several people complained to him about the allegations in his capacity as PKR’s public complaints head.
The MP then gave an ultimatum to the MB to form an independent commission to investigate the alleged graft and sack those involved. Manikavasagam then lodged a police report against Kumpulan Semesta after a meeting with Khalid on Wednesday morning.
Kumpulan Semesta yesterday has strongly denied Manikavasagam’ s allegation that there were corrupt activities involving senior company officials.
Its executive director Ramli Abd Majed said the company wanted Manikavasagam to retract his statement and make an apology within 48 hours on the matter.
He said the company would initiate legal action against the MP if the latter did not retract and make the apology within the stipulated time.
Yaakob cool to corruption allegations
Despite allegations of corrupt practices in Selangor-owned sand-mining firm Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd, State Agriculture, Natural Resources and Entrepreneurial Development committee chairman and executive councillor Yaakob Sapari remains unperturbed.
When contacted by The Malay Mail, Yaakob likened the current situation to the predicament he faced earlier this year when his office was raided and his aide arrested by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).
“My department was put under scrutiny due to the so-called case. But, in the end, MACC came up with nothing,” he said.
“This time, I also have no objections to the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability & Transparency (Selcat) investigating the allegations.”
Yaakob even welcomed the call by Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for the matter to be investigated.
“I welcome this order as this shows how transparent our State government is.”
The Kota Anggerik assemblyman said the reason for so much attention was due to the different approach by the State government in handling allegations by a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) representative against the PR-led State-owned company.
“It just shows the Selangor government is open to comments and suggestions, unlike the Barisan Nasional,” he said. Yaakob said he did not mind co-operating with police, should the need arise.
Selangor assembly deputy speaker Haniza Mohammed Talha said Selcat would probe the matter once they receive the greenlight from the Selangor exco.
She also said the committee had yet to receive instructions as the allegations were only raised on Wednesday.
“Selcat’s role is not to investigate corrupt practices among parties. The committee’s function is to determine causes for weaknesses in our delivery system and suggest to the State government on how to rectify it.”
Explaining the procedures, Haniza said individuals would be called by the Selangor government to explain what transpired.
She said Selcat did not have the authority to punish anyone found guilty as it was not “Selcat’s position to do so”.
The committee would look through documents for evidence gathering before deciding on a public hearing. She assured that the developments of the hearing would be posted online via the TV Selangor website.
Kapar MP, S. Manikavasagam, was reported to have said he was prepared to be sued for naming the three top officials of Semesta for alleged involvement in corrupt practices.
Wangsa Maju MP Wee Chee Keong had also chastised Khalid over the “mishandling” of the allegations brought up by 12 PKR MPs.
