Khalid on RM1 bil scandal: “I don’t know anything”

(Malaysian Digest) – SELANGOR Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim today denied any knowledge of impending revelations of abuse of public funds within the state government, allegedly involving up to RM1 billion.

Speaking at the state’s budget dialogue at a hotel here this morning, Khalid said he was clueless over the allegations raised by MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong concerning the funds.

In a series of tweets yesterday, Chua had claimed that he would expose a  “scandal involving RM1 billion worth of wheeling and dealing.”

Chua had claimed that he received information on the deals, which were concealed via complicated transactions.

Chua, who is also Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister, claimed that the deals were related to asset transfers, restructuring tactics and corporate exercises, among others.

Khalid, in response, maintained his ignorance on the allegations.

“I don’t know what they are talking about. However, the Selangor government is very transparent ,” he told reporters.

When asked on his decision whether to hold the state election simultaneously with GE13 Khalid said that if the Prime Minister has the right not to reveal the actual date of the election then he is also entitled to such privilege.

“We will hold the state election when we feel that it is the right time to do so,” he said.

Khalid was holding the press conference right after he opened the “Dialog Bajet Selangor 2013” (Selangor Budget 2013 Dialog) at Subang Jaya today. The dialog will take place from 2 – 3 July 2012.

Meanwhile, Khalid defended the appointments of three politicians to the Universiti Selangor (UNISEL) board.

The appointments of his political secretary Faekah Husin, Hulu Langat MP Che Rosli Che Mat, and Merbok MP Datuk Rashid Din as members of the university’s board of directors had received flak from BN Selangor deputy chairman Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who said this could lead to the three influencing the university’s decisions.

Khalid maintained that the trio were selected based on their academic capabilities.

He said Hulu Langat MP Che Rosli Che Mat, for example, was selected on the basis of him being a nuclear physicist.

“There’s no question of whether he should be on the Unisel board or not, as I’m sure that he’s more qualified than (Selangor Barisan Nasional deputy chairman) Datuk Seri Noh Omar,” he said.

Khalid also cited himself as an example.

“I was once appointed as Universiti Utara Malaysia chairman by the Federal Government, so I don’t see any problem with my involvement in UNISEL,” he said.

On the involvement of Faekah on the university board, he replied that Faekah is a certified lawyer.

“I’m sure that she is a more capable lawyer than Noh Omar as well,” he said.

Noh, who is also Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister, had claimed that after Pakatan Rakyat took over Unisel, various problems cropped up, including a change of vice-chancellor and the resignation of several individuals whose places were taken over by leaders from PAS and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

The minister had said that under the previous BN administration, only one state government representative – the education executive council member – was appointed. He alleged that with the current setup, the state government now has the capacity to influence any action or decision made by the university.

Noh had also questioned the Pakatan administration’s decision to appoint three deputy vice-chancellors on the Jusa B Grade, compared to only one when the BN was in power, and also creating the post of senior registrar on the same salary grade in the Unisel administration.