#abdul khalid

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2015/02/26/former-selangor-mbs-agree-to-settle-defamation-suits-through-mediation-process/

Former Selangor MBs agree to settle defamation suits through mediation process

SHAH ALAM, Feb 26, 2015:

Former Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo today agreed to settle through mediation the defamation suits filed by the latter against the former over statements published in newspapers on the purchase of a Lexus car and 46 cows for sacrifice.

Judicial Commissioner M. Gunalan set March 4 for the two parties to go through the process.

Dr Mohamad Khir, represented by lawyers M. Athimulan and Siti Maspuah Maulan, was at the court, while Abdul Khalid was not present. He was represented by lawyer K. Murali.

The case was initially fixed for hearing today.

Abdul Khalid filed the two suits, both named Dr Mohamed Khir as the plaintiff, on Feb 18, 2009, over the latter’s statements on the purchase of the Lexus car and cows, which were published in two newspapers.

In the statement of claim, Abdul Khalid alleged that Mohamad Khir had said or made two statements which were defamatory and published in The New Straits Times, headlined “Lexus is my own, says Khalid”, dated Jan 15, 2009, and in the Malay daily Utusan Malaysia, headlined “Lepaskan Jawatan MB” (Give Up the MB’s Post) on Jan 23 the same year.

Abdul Khalid claimed the articles directly or indirectly referred to him and implied, among others, that he was dishonest, unethical and had intentionally abused his position and public office for personal gain.

He also claimed Mohamad Khir had wrongfully received and displayed confidential official documents pertaining to the assumed malpractice with regard to the “sacrificial cattle” without confirming the accuracy of the facts and subsequently making false allegations.

As such, he is seeking compensatory damages, aggravated damages, exemplary damages and an injunction to restrain Mohamad Khir from further uttering, speaking, writing or publishing the statements which he claimed were defamatory.

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/12/03/irregularities-khalids-golden-handshake-discovered/

'Irregularities in Khalid's golden handshake discovered'

SHAH ALAM, Dec 3, 2014:

The controversial audit report on former Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s “golden handshake” to his staff has discovered several irregularities in its terms and procedures, following its tabling at the state assembly sittings today.

The report, which was released to the members of the media by Select Committee of Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) chairman Hannah Yeoh, revealed that the terms of the contract and guidelines with regards to the gratuity payments made to eight members of Abdul Khalid’s staff were not followed.

In November, it was reported that RM2.27 million in compensation and RM376,000 in lieu of three months’ notice was allegedly paid to Abdul Khalid’s eight members of staff, with the highest amount of RM695,400, allegedly paid to special officer Faekah Husin.

However, a report later quoted Abdul Khalid as saying that the payments were made under a voluntary separation scheme (VSS) that was offered to the staff when he left office.

Abdul Khalid dismissed the concerns over the staggering amount, saying that the payouts amounted to only 2% of MBI’s cash reserves amounting to RM112 million.

- More to come – 

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/11/19/probe-former-selangor-mb-selcat-says-pas-mp/

Probe former Selangor MB under Selcat, says PAS MP

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19, 2014:

PAS Selangor has urged the state government to investigate former Selangor Menteri Besar (MB) Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim over the RM2.6 million payout given to his aides when he left office.

Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad today accused the former MB of maliciously implicating four Selangor State Executive Councillors (exco) in the matter.

He also disputed claims by Abdul Khalid that the four — Iskandar Abdul Samad, Dr Halimah Ali, Dr Yunus Khairy and Sallehin Mukhyi, had ever approved the amount to be paid to eight officers of the Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI).

“Excos and former excos, who were said to have approved the payout, had explained in a PAS Selangor meeting last night that they were only informed about the payment and did not approve it, as approvals could only be done by MBI’s Board of Directors.

“So we see efforts to involve the four PAS excos as a malicious political move by Abdul Khalid to implicate PAS,” he said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

Khalid explained that MBI chief executive officer Faekah Hussin received the highest payout amounting to about  RM700,000, from the total RM2.6 million.

Faekah’s total payment included RM500,000 in payout and three months salary worth RM150,000, for being terminated with a 24-hour notice,” said Khalid.

He said Abdul Khalid should be investigated under the Selangor’s Select Committee of Competency, Accountability, and Transparency (Selcat) for the excessive payout.

“The way the payout was done is suspicious, and proves that the myth about Abdul Khalid being stingy with the people’s and government’s money was not true.

“On behalf of PAS Selangor, I urge the state to conduct a thorough investigation through Selcat and, if necessary, through the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission).”

Also present at the press conference were PKR Hulu Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid, DAP Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua and PAS Tumpat MP Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/09/22/abdul-khalid-sacks-anwar-leaving-office/

Abdul Khalid sacks Anwar before leaving office

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 22, 2014:

In his last act as Menteri Besar of Selangor, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has closed down the State Economic Adviser’s office, a position held by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In a press statement, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) chief executive officer Faekah Husin said the office at Plaza Perangsang in Shah Alam was closed down to save costs.

She said economic matters could be handled by Selangor State Investment Centre (SSIC) that had the expertise to handle the administration, procedures and promotions.

Faekah thanked Anwar for his contribution and service as the Economic Adviser of Selangor.

“Since its inception, there had been many accusations about the salary that Anwar earned in that position as well as his role and contribution to the state.

“Therefore, we decided to close down the office so it did not conflict with the job of state officers that were tasked with handling the economic and investment duties of the state.”

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/columnists/2014/09/22/abdul-khalid-leaves-image-integrity-badly-bruised/

Abdul Khalid leaves with image and integrity badly bruised

TAN Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s days as Menteri Besar has ended.

Once Pakatatan Rakyat’s celebrated Menteri Besar for Selangor, Abdul Khalid, 67, left office with his integrity badly bruised.

No thanks to the protracted Selangor Menteri Besar crisis that forced dirty linen to be aired in full view of the Selangor public, who just a year ago thought highly of Abdul Khalid’s style of administration.

It does not matter if the allegations made by his former party, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), from which he was sacked for refusing to follow an order to step down from office, have any truth in them, his image had been badly dented.

Nonetheless, there are still those among the ordinary Selangor folk, civil servants, PKR and PAS members and supporters who do not share the anti-Abdul Khalid sentiment.

They are generally happy with Abdul Khalid as Menteri Besar.

It is highly probable that they have little or no knowledge at all that Abdul Khalid has long been a subject of PKR’s political intrigue where sections in the party claimed he had been mishandling the affairs of the country’s richest state.

That was why people were shocked when the so-called Abdul Khalid’s dirty deeds dossier was made public to support PKR’s decision to remove him from office and party.

The thick dossier, which was also distributed by PKR to PAS and DAP, listed Abdul Khalid’s questionable out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam, Kidex Highway project, Selangor water deal, issues pertaining to the increase of business licence fees in the state as well as potholes and garbage collection as reasons the party wanted Khalid to vacant the coveted seat he had held since 2008.

Not everyone believe these allegations as true.

“I want to congratulate Abdul Khalid, he has done an excellent job. I think one of the best Menteri Besar that Selangor has ever had,” said Cempaka assemblyman Iskandar Abdul Samad to reporters at the state administrative building on Monday.

Iskandar, one of the four PAS’ lawmakers who remained as exco member to help Abdul Khalid run the state after the latter became partyless, also thinks that Selangor was fortunate to have had Abdul Khalid running the state since 2008.

A closer look at recent scenarios showed that most people who have worked directly with Abdul Khalid has a lot of good things to say about the former Menteri Besar; only those with political links to him, including those from PKR, think otherwise and even that, only in the past one year when efforts to oust him from office started.

All could see that Abdul Khalid had tried hard to administer the state as a caretaker MB, assisted by the PAS lawmakers, after his resignation was accepted by Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, but postponed until a replacement had been found.

He is resolved to the fact that he no longer enjoys the majority support of the 56 Selangor state assemblymen.

But Abdul Khalid could also had avoided all these hardship and slander by the anti-Khalid group if had had not resisted his former party’s request for him to make way.

There would not have been the failed Kajang Move, the dossier and other situations that caused a lot of strain in PKR-PAS-DAP relations, which is not about to improve any time soon.

In fact, the situation has already became complicated that it had reach a stage where it is  threatening to break the loose political cooperation the three parties had entered just after the 2008 General Election.

In politics, it is not for an appointed leader to decide whether to remain in power.

It is his party, which had chosen him for the post and naturally, he is expected to vacate the position once being told to do so.

Similar situations had occurred before, including those involving several Menteri Besar from Barisan Nasional, the latest was in Terengganu not too long ago.

Their respective exit was not without problems; there were threats to resign as elected representatives and all, but they all came to their senses and left their office to avoid compromising the stability of the state government and their party, like what has happened in Selangor.

The people of Selangor hope to see Pakatan Rakyat move on as soon as the new Menteri Besar is sworn in and his state exco members take their oath of office.

There is still a lot to be done for the state and the people.

Zubaidah Abu Bakar

*Seasoned journalist Zubaidah Abu Bakar takes a keen interest in Malaysia’s vibrant and sometimes dramatic political landscape.

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/09/19/kajang-move-going-according-pkrs-script/

Kajang Move not going according to PKR’s script

WHO will replace Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor Menteri Besar is still a mystery although it is now public knowledge that the new Menteri Besar is set to be sworn in on Tuesday.

The invite to attend the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Alam Shah, Klang, sent out by the Selangor palace to the Who’s Who in the state has set off another round of speculation over the Sultan of Selangor’s choice.

No name was mentioned on the invitation card.

Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah had made known that he was looking beyond the nominees submitted to him separately by Pakatan Rakyat parties to replace Khalid, whose resignation he had accepted, but postponed because there was no clear replacement at that time.

What is certain is that the Kajang Move, initiated by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to remove Khalid and replace him with the party’s president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is about to reach the end of the road.

Only that the likely finishing is not going to be according to PKR’s script.

Several media reports quoting sources, including from the Selangor palace, had said the new Menteri Besar was not a woman, but did not state who was the chosen one.

If it is not Dr Wan Azizah, than the controversial Kajang Move initiated by the PKR elites, and also the root cause of the ongoing Selangor Menteri Besar saga, is a complete failure.

PKR’s insistence to instal its president and PAS’ consistent opposition to the proposal had strained the PKR-PAS relation so much so that both PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had come under attack by supporters from both sides and the DAP.

The strained Pakatan Rakyat relationship was highlighted when none of PKR’s top brass, except for vice-presidents Tian Chua and Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin, attended the opening ceremony of the 60th PAS Muktamar in Batu Pahat on Thursday.

DAP had only sent its Johor chief Liew Chin Tong.

Anwar,  Dr Wan Azizah, her deputy Mohamed Azmin Ali, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and other senior party officials were common features at the opening ceremony of previous PAS muktamar.

There were also no PKR and DAP leaders at a ceramah later that night, although Anwar and Kit Siang were named as speakers on a banner announcing the public rally held in conjunction with the muktamar.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders are also in the dark over the identity of Abdul Khalid’s replacement, but the political spotlight now pans on two individuals — PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali and Cempaka assemblyman Iskandar Abdul Samad from PAS although names like Ijok assemblyman Dr Idris Ahmad has also cropped up again.

Azmin was initially PAS’ alternative candidate to Dr Wan Azizah, but PAS had submitted a letter containing three names for the Menteri Besar’s post, minus the two top PKR leaders.

It will certainly be awkward for PKR if it were to be Azmin and not Dr Wan Azizah. Then again, the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman is still a better choice than a nominee from PAS.

A consolation is that the party, at the least, gets to keep the Menteri Besar’s post as earlier agreed among Pakatan Rakyat partners. This may not pacify PKR members who want the party president installed as Menteri Besar.

The DAP may have issues with Azmin taking charge of the country’s richest state, but he is still a better bet than another from PAS.

There should be no issue with PAS either since the party had reiterated that it will go along with the Sultan’s choice.

But the Menteri Besar saga is unlikely to end on Tuesday if Iskandar, who is a Selangor state exco member and the state PAS chief, is sworn in as the 15th Selangor Menteri Besar.

PKR and DAP are expected to oppose the appointment and the possibility of Selangor assemblymen taking a vote of no confidence against Iskandar is always there.

It could also end up in the same manner if it were to be Azmin, but it is more likely to happen if the Menteri Besar is from PAS.

Voices urging PAS to reject the appointment of a PAS nominee and vice versa were loud among delegates attending the ongoing muktamar amid talk on the possibility of a nominee from the party being appointed as the new Selangor Menteri Besar.

Terengganu PAS, through its representative Mohd Nor Hamzah for instance, wants the party to accept the post if granted by the Sultan against several delegates’ call to adhere to its promise that the office belongs to PKR.

But Perlis delegate Wan Kharizal Wan Khazim urged the party to respectfully reject the position as it was a matter of moral integrity.

He and a delegate from Negeri Sembilan, Mohd Khairil Anuar Mold Wafa, urged the muktamar to declare, ahead of the Menteri Besar’s appointment, that PAS did not want the position.

It is not known why the Selangor palace had chosen not to announce who the new Menteri Besar is, but surely Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has good reasons.

Zubaidah Abu Bakar

*Seasoned journalist Zubaidah Abu Bakar takes a keen interest in Malaysia’s vibrant and sometimes dramatic political landscape.

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/09/14/selangor-sultan-can-decide-next-mb/

'Only the Selangor Sultan can decide on next MB'

PENGKALAN KUBOR, 14 Sept, 2014:

PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said he had no right to appoint the next Selangor Menteri Besar.

He said it was the prerogative of the Selangor ruler, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and the Islamist party would leave it to the the sultan’s discretion.

He added his alleged backing for Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to be retained as Selangor Menteri Besar did not arise.

“We submitted three names. I do not know about the other parties. Only the sultan can decide on this,” he said, alluding to fellow Pakatan Rakyat component parties, DAP and PKR.

It had been previously reported that both PKR and DAP had only chosen to submit PKR President Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail’s name as the sole candidate.

Hadi was speaking to reporters after delivering a ceremah for the Pengkalan Kubor by-election.

Yesterday PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad claimed that Hadi had said that the only way out of the Selangor Menteri Besar crisis was by retaining Abdul Khalid.

Hadi also allegedly suggested he would monitor Abdul Khalid’s performance.

The Marang Member of Parliament is said to have stated this during a meeting he had yesterday with Nik Nazmi, DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) chief Teo Kok Seong and PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat.

Nik Nazmi added Hadi’s solution went against the majority support for Dr Wan Azizah as Menteri Besar.

PKR, Nik Nazmi added, was concerned over Hadi’s stand.

When asked to comment on this, Hadi claimed he had not read the Seri Setia assemblyman’s statement.

[therakyatpost]

New Post has been published on The Rakyat Post

New Post has been published on http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/09/12/water-concessionaire-employees-retrenched-takeover/

'No water concessionaire employees retrenched in takeover'

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 12, 2014:

Employees from the three Selangor water concessionaires would not be retrenched after the their services are been taken over by Air Selangor Sdn Bhd, said Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

He said through the signing of the master agreement today that finalised the state’s water industry restructuring, Air Selangor Sdn Bhd would take over the operations and maintenance of the water treatment plants as well as the water supply services from Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas), Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB) and Konsortium ABASS Sdn Bhd (Abass).

“In the takeover of these companies via equity ownership, no workers will have their services terminated under the restructuring exercise.

“We will acquire all equities of the companies. All existing employment and operations will continue. There is no retrenchment, but there will be restructuring for greater efficiency and capacity.

“The acquisition of equities will not affect their services. This will enable us to gain the confidence of employees of Syabas, PNSB and Abass to continue to serve the new company,” he said before witnessing the signing of the master agreement between the federal government and the Selangor government.

The agreement was signed by Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, who represented the federal government, and State Secretary Datuk Mohammed Khusrin Munawi, on behalf of the state government, while Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) was represented by its chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Ahmad Faizal Abdul Rahman and Air Selangor Sdn Bhd by its CEO Suhaimi Kamaralzaman.

Abdul Khalid said with the taking over of the water concessions, the new company would also focus on upgrading of water pipes and reducing non-revenue water for better management efficiency.

“If we manage the water assets well, we will sell shares to Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya residents so that the efforts to return water rights to the people succeed.

“With this, Selangor residents will become consumers and shareholders and the people can better monitor the management’s capability.”