It is with shock, dismay and cold sweat that we read of Mohd Khir Toyo’s desire to continue as Selangor menteri besar for another term. From the timing of his announcement, any political observer can see that it is an attempt to shore up his flagging position in the face of mounting criticism over his inept handling of matters from the broom awards to the demolition of temples.

There are two or three matters which I have yet to finish and I have to complete them,” he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview at his office in Shah Alam last week. Looking back at Khir Toyo's stewardship since assuming office, what comes to mind?

The first major policy announced by Khir Toyo was his plan to stop 24-hour convenience shops from selling condoms. Outcry from Aids evangelists laid this plan to rest. Next he planned to remove beer advertisements from all billboards, even the small signages on coffee shop stalls. This happened in most cases but only to reappear on a larger scale. Khir Toyo also wanted an end to all 24-hour restaurants, claiming this was leading to undesirable activities. This too was not well-received by the public.

Moving on to the entertainment front, Khir Toyo decreed something to the effect of a maximum 10 entertainment outlets in one municipality or town. Here, entertainment was defined as anything from snooker centres, game centres, pubs and blind massage centres. This idea is still being pursued vigorously by the MB. At the height of his campaign , Khir Toyo assigned each exco member an area and directed them to visit massage centres and close them down if any hanky panky was going on.

Selangor has one of the highest crime rates in the country, with people dying at the hands of snatch thieves, the highest rate of gangsterism, rape and murder including celebrity murders as well as the highest death rates due to dengue. Shouldn’t this be the priority of the menteri besar and his exco rather than expending precious effort on trivial matters? For example by telling a gathering of women, "When washing your husband's clothes, look out for tell-tale signs... stains, hotel receipts... then inform the authorities...".

The tell-tale signs are indeed out there! A drive around the industrial areas of Selangor would jolt anyone upon seeing the number of factories that have closed down with hardly any new ones coming up. Shouldn’t Khir Toyo be doing everything possible to bring in new investment? Create more jobs rather than look for hotel receipts and stains.

Khir Toyo’s most dangerous policy is on religion. He had stated that for every 20,000 residents in Selangor, there should be only one place of worship for each religion. Suraus are excluded from this computation for reasons best known to him. There was widespread criticism of this policy.

The demolition of Hindu temples should be seen in the context of this quiet, concealed and on-going policy. He has openly stated that "There are more Hindu temples in Selangor than mosques" implying the need to reduce and therefore demolish temples.

This is why he went ahead with the recent demolition of the Shah Alam temple despite an appeal from S Samy Vellu. S Annamalai has pointed this out clearly in his letter, Khir Toyo insensitive to others' sensitivities .

According to the Malaysian Hindu Sangam press statement dated Oct 30, “The president of the Sangam, A Vaithilingam, made immediate approach to MIC president Samy Vellu whose attempt to halt the demolition for at least two days, giving the temple ample time to remove the deities to the new site with a religious ceremony, was turned down by the Menteri Besar Dr Khir Toyo." This is another indication of Khir Toyo’s total lack of sensitivity.

Ethnic relations in Malaysia have never degenerated this low since May 13 where riots started in what was then Selangor. Let it not repeat in what is now still Selangor. It takes sensitivity, mutual respect, dynamism and ability to embrace diversity with an overriding passion towards holistic development. This should be the hallmark of the new menteri besar of Selangor, the most developed and important state in Malaysia. Sadly, the incumbent is lacking in this. Mr Prime Minister, we are counting on you to rectify this sorry state of affairs.

The rot has set in. The prime minister needs to take a long, hard look. No amount of mouthwash prescription would do. Extracting and discarding the rotten tooth is the best solution, failing which neutralisation through root canal is needed. It would be best to neutralise Khir Toyo, like M Kavyeas, by shifting him to a federal position as a deputy minister in a ministry where he can do minimal damage.

Thus he should not be allowed to “finish two or three matters” that he has “yet to finish." To do so may have disastrous consequences for us and our beloved nation. We don’t know for sure what these two or three unfinished businesses are but we should not wait to find out either. Khir Toyo needs to be stopped in his tracks before that.

It will definitely be a field day for the opposition should Khir Toyo be allowed to continue as MB for another term. It will be sheer political suicide on the part of Selangor BN.