Khir praises me?

The former Menteri Besar and possible new Opposition Leader in the Selangor State Assembly, Dato Seri Dr Mohd Khir bin Toyo, praises me, inter alia, for having been an "effective opposition leader with lots of experience" in the Malaysiakini interview today.

Obviously, he has an axe to grind. He would not have had allowed me to be suspended for 30 months and the allowances be stripped off for 18 months if he had truly appreciated my role and my experience in the assembly.

Doesn't he forget that my symbolic act of protest of putting the Standing Order into the waste paper bin was done merely to protest the abuse of power by the then Speaker, Tan Sri Onn Ismail, for not allowing me to table my no confidence motion again Khir although I had duly notified the Speaker in accordance with the provisions of the Standing Order?

The report by the Malaysiakini is as follows:-

"Khir's challenge: Declare assets
Andrew Ong Mar 27, 08 3:05pm

Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has challenged his successor Khalid Ibrahim and his state executive councillors to declare their assets.

Mohd Khir was responding to Khalid’s recent revelation that there were reservations by some exco members on the matter.

"Before the elections, they (opposition parties) promised that they would declare their assets. I want them to declare now... if they cannot, that would be very unfortunate for the people of Selangor," said Mohd Khir during a phone interview today.

In an interview carried by Malaysiakini yesterday, Khalid said that he would "most likely" compel his exco members to declare their assets publicly.

However, he added that there were reservations by some exco members who do not want their shareholding information to be made public due to "family reasons".

Mohd Khir said that up until now, neither one of the new state governments had compelled their public office bearers to declare their assets, contrary to pledges made prior to the elections.

"All these opposition leaders should declare their assets and their debts. If they have settled their debts, tell us where the money came from," he said.

Two figures which Mohd Khir paid particular interest to, in regards to debts, was Khalid and newly appointed exco member Dr Hassan Ali.

Mohd Khir said previously, he and his exco members had to declare their assets to the Chief Secretary to the Government once every two years.

‘Inexperienced’ MB

On Khalid’s proposal to implement a RM9 monthly levy for each foreign worker in Selangor, Mohd Khir said such a scheme would come under the purview of the federal government and not the state government.

"The first thing he needs to understand is the different powers of the federal and state governments. He should also thoroughly learn the state constitution and laws.

"He has shown signs of an inexperienced menteri besar who did not investigate matters thoroughly," said the former two-term Selangor chief executive.

Khalid, who has come under fire from various groups over the proposal, had said that the RM9 levy was for the purpose of weaning employers from foreign workers.

He also proposed that the collected levy, which is estimated to reach RM150 million annually, would be used for skills training programmes for youths as a means of tackling unemployment.

On Khalid’s announcement that the new state government would pursue its predecessors ‘zero-squatters’ policy, Mohd Khir said that it was due recognition of the previous government’s policy.

"Our zero squatters policy was the best in the world. Many foreign governments had sought my help in order to emulate a similar system in their respective countries.

"PKR on the hand were playing politics. It was only after they were in power they realised what we were doing in the past," he stressed.

‘Teng sidelined’

In the case of Kampung Berembang, Khir said the state government had provided options for squatters to buy affordable and proper housing.

"Last time they were against the policy. Wan Azizah (PKR president) stayed there and gave tents to encourage the people to go against us. But now they seem to be emulating our policy," he added.

Asked about the Kampung Berembang issue, Khalid said the state government would "revisit" the issue, adding that he would try to accommodate both the wishes of the squatters as well as the developer.

Developers Perspektif Masa Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with state-owned Permodalan Nasional Selangor Bhd (PNSB), had sought to forcibly remove Kampung Berembang residents to make way for development projects last year.

Residents however are asserting claim to compensation as they have lived on the land since 1960s with consent from the Selangor government as evident in provision of electricity, water and other amenities by the authorities.

On veteran DAP opposition leader and Sungai Pinang assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim, Mohd Khir agreed that he had been sidelined in the appointment of exco positions.

"Teng is very senior and I respect him because he was a very effective opposition leader with lots of experience. In contrast, Ean Yong (Hian Wah) is only 29 years old. Why was he (Teng) sidelined?" asked Mohd Khir."