Khalid strikes back - malaysiakini

By Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM, Feb 24 – The gloves have come off in the battle for Selangor.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim who is being accused of abuse of power by Umno and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) has started to hit back at his detractors.

Yesterday, two top officials from state investment arm Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) were ordered to go on a month’s paid leave to facilitate investigations into “irregularities and weaknesses” in the company’s financial accounts.

The pair are chief executive Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan and finance manager Nora Azmin Radzuan, who is also Selangor Puteri Umno chief.

The Malaysian Insider has learnt that among the irregularities detected in the financial accounts is non-disclosure of perks and bonuses paid to former top officials of PNSB, as well as declarations to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Sources told The Malaysian Insider there was also a probe on irregularities in the financial accounts involving an RM159,250 Patek Philippe watch which was returned to PNSB by Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, the former Umno menteri besar.

The former menteri besar was initially given the gold watch as a sign of gratitude by the state investment agency before the March 8 general elections but it was reported that he declined to accept it.

The watch was reported to have been sold at the same price two months later but a probe is underway into the possibility of manipulation of PNSB’s accounts.

In a statement yesterday the state government indicated they were also investigating discrepancies in the sale and purchase of real estate in Mecca, between 2006 and 2007.

The Malaysian Insider has learnt that the state investment agency had purchased property in Saudi Arabia but these were later sold at cost price, without the knowledge of PNSB’s board.
Last Friday, the MACC revealed that there was strong evidence to show that Khalid had used state funds to purchase cattle for mosques in his parliamentary constituency and to pay for the maintenance of his personal car.

But yesterday’s revelation of irregularities is an indication that Khalid is prepared to go toe-to-toe with Umno and this may mean more dirt on the previous administration may soon be exposed. -- The Malaysian Insider