Khalid hits back

SHAH ALAM: Embattled Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim yesterday dug his heels in and fought back against his party's move to oust him using disciplinary action and allegations of misconduct.
In a move to show transparency, Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) "dossier' of allegations of misconduct against him was handed over to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday, by Khalid's principal private secretary Mohd Yasid Bidin.
Mohd Yasid, who was accompanied by Khalid's political secretaries Mustapha Mohd Talib and Azman Abidin, and several other staff, also lodged a formal report urging MACC to probe the allegations against Khalid.
"We decided to take the initiative to lodge the report with MACC because the parties which had brought up the allegations have not done so," Mohd Yasid said, when asked what prompted the action.
Mohd Yasid revealed that Khalid was convinced he had committed no wrongdoing, despite the allegations made by PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in the dossier.
The allegations by Saifuddin, among others, involved Khalid's out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam over RM66.67 million Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd shares, when he was the group's chief executive officer.
On Monday, Khalid said he was willing to give his full cooperation to any authorities if an investigation is conducted on him.
"The accusations leveled against me by Saifuddin are very serious. They are categorically untrue; If he (Saifuddin) believes them to be true, he and his associates should have immediately lodged a report with the relevant authorities, as well as expose any and all evidence to substantiate his claims," Khalid had said.
"Failure to do so can only invite speculation that these accusations are politically motivated and in bad faith," said Khalid.
Speaking to reporters after the launch of Klang's third bridge yesterday, Khalid said he had replied to a show-cause letter issued by the PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong on Tuesday and hoped the party leadership would make it known to the members on the basis of transparency.
Among other things, Khalid's reply letter stated that:
> the show-cause letter sent to him was incomplete as it failed to state clearly and specifically the accusations against him, and list which provisions in the party constitution he had violated, to enable him to respond properly;
> the so-called 'Kajang Move' was not a matter discussed by the parties concerned effectively with and fairly towards him but had been implemented as a 'directive' by the party to him without giving due consideration to the fact that his responsibility as the MB includes executive responsibility to the people of Selangor.
> he had never agreed to the resignation of Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh without good cause; and
> the rationale for the 'Kajang Move' was not presented clearly but was constantly flip-flopping and creating confusion.
Khalid also said that instead of getting the agreement from the PR coalition members as well as the consent of the ruler to get him to step down as MB, the party was forcing him to relinquish the position without regard to the opinion of the coalition partners.
He said the move to unseat him prematurely would jeopardise the stability of the Selangor government, besides being unfair to him and the people of Selangor.
Khalid claimed he still enjoyed the support and confidence of the majority in the state assembly and there was no reason under the Selangor State constitution which would require his resignation as MB now.
"As a party member, I am willing to answer at any time any legitimate charges levied against me, provided it is done correctly and in order," he said.
Asked as to calls for him to resign from the post, Khalid said that he will issue a formal media statement after the Pakatan Rakyat leadership meets on Aug 10.