PKR's Sri Muda assemblyperson Shuhaimi Shafiei has vehemently denied any involvement in the organising committee of Karnival Terima Kasih Rakyat, the controversial political event marred by irregular procurement.

"I was not involved at all as a committee member in any main or sub-committee of this programme, what more deciding on the quotation and other matters," he said in a statement yesterday

NONE "I admitted that I had attended the meeting twice on behalf of state executive councillor Bukit Lanjan (Elizabeth Wong), who is one of the three executive councillors tasked to carry out this programme."

Suhaimi has earlier told Malaysiakini that information chiefs of all three Pakatan Rakyat component parties sat in the carnival's organising committee, and he had attended the meeting twice, but without mentioning that they were on Wong's behalf.

He had also earlier said Selangor PKR publicity secretary Irwan Hidayat Abd Rahim, represented him and PKR in the organising committee. Shuhaimi is Selangor PKR information chief.

Idea Tank Sdn Bhd, a private company of which Irwan was a director and shareholder, had submitted RM356,000 in claims for providing services and products to the carnival.

However the state government has withheld the payment as an internal investigation found the procurement was done without complying with financial rules.

But carnival's coordinator Ronnie Liu denied any irregularity and claimed that it was a "misunderstanding" .

Karnival Terima Kasih Rakyat was a political carnival organised by the Selangor government on March 25 to celebrate Pakatan Rakyat's fourth anniversary of governing the state.

'Irwan not my assistant'

In the statement issued yesterday, Shuhaimi also denied his relationship with Irwan.

"The individual named as my assistant is not at all my assistant or special officer. He is only a party activist," he said.

Shuhaimi had earlier told Malaysiakini that Irwan worked under him as Selangor PKR publicity secretary II.

Irwan had also separately told Malaysiakini that he helped out Selangor PKR publicity work under Shuhaimi on a part-time basis.

NONE When contacted yesterday, Shuhaimi clarified that Irwan worked directly under Selangor PKR publicity secretary Hafiz Mat Som.

"He volunteers as party activist with no salary or allowance. Irwan is under the supervision of Selangor PKR publicity secretary office. My assistant and special officer is Azmin Karim, whose salary I pay myself.

"Occasionally if there are overlapping meetings, we will request the help of whoever is free to represent the party (to attend the meeting).

"Do we need to declare that, and are you going to link (him) with the procurement simply because he attended the meeting as a party representative?"

Shuhaimi told Malaysiakini to refer the issue of procurement to Liu as chairperson of the carnival.

Meanwhile, he threatened to sue Malaysiakini for linking him to the carnival.

He added that the allegation was a form of political revenge against him for calling for the sacking of Selangor Menteri Besar's political secretary Faekah Hussin for allegedly issuing a letter in support of a relative’s law firm.

"If he (Irwan), participates (in the carnival procurement), it is in his business capacity and has nothing to do with me. It is obvious that this is motivated by political revenge," he said.