In a tit-for-tat response to Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s revelation to Parliament yesterday that showed the police and the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission to be under the thumb of top Umno leaders, a decision may be made to charge Pakatan Rakyat’s Khalid Ibrahim for abuse of power.
MACC chief Ahmad Said Hamdan said the graft buster had strong evidence that Khalid abused his power by charging the expenses and maintenance of his Lexus car and the purchase of 46 cows to the state.
“The MACC can decide but it’s better for the Attorney-General to consider and take action, it involves a VIP and we have to be fair to everyone,” Ahmad told a news conference in Penang.
He also said investigation papers were ready and would be submitted to the Attorney-General soon.
“Obviously, this is an attempt to embarrass Khalid and to get back at Pakatan. But I think Malaysians and Selangor people in particular know Khalid,” said KeADILan information chief Tian Chua.
“It just confirms what we have been warning about. There is a plot to destabilise Selangor. First, Eli and now Khalid. Who and what next?”
Non-stop negative politicking
Tian was referring to Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong, who just days ago quit her state assembly seat and executive councillor post after pictures of her partially dressed and asleep were illegally circulated in a bid to smear and kill her promising political career.
Meanwhile, his lawyer Sankara Nair slammed the MACC chief for unprofessional conduct.
“It has been the norm in MACC’s practice hitherto not to make statements indicating or stating the culpability of a person who is being investigated or at the end of the said investigation. In this particular case, MACC has chosen to depart from the time honoured norm and as such it clearly reeks of double-standards,” Sankara told a press conference this afternoon.
He said Ahmad’s statement was aimed at making Khalid “look guilty in the eyes of the public before he is charged in court or convicted.”
“Let me reiterate that the protocol on the decision to prosecute places a very heavy burden on the prosecution and the mere stating of the technicality without the essential element of mens rea or criminal intent does not certainly meet the standards to pursue prosecution. I therefore urge the MACC to act professionally at all time.”
Khalid, who on Wednesday filed two defamation suits against his predecessor Mohd Khir Toyo, is expected to release a press statement this afternoon.
Khir had initally alleged that Khalid bought the Lexus as his official car, but Khalid showed proof the car was his own and said that he was using it for official purposes as well. After this, Khalid was accused of using public funds to maintain the vehicle and a report loged with the MACC.
The Pakatan leader was also accused of misusing RM110,400 of state funds to buy 46 cattle for his Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary constituency to celebrate Hari Raya Haji. Khalid has said the arrangements to buy and donate the cows were done by state agency Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) with donor companies without his or his officers’ involvement.
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