Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has dared his party colleagues to report him to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if they stand by their allegations against him.

"The accusations levelled against me by PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution are very serious. They are categorically untrue.

 

"If Saifuddin believes them to be true, he and his associates should immediately lodge a report with the MACC, the police and Bank Negara, as well as immediately expose any and all evidence to substantiate his claims," Khalid said in a statement today.

Saifuddin said earlier today that one of the reasons PKR wants to replace Khalid is that his integrity has “become doubtful” following his RM66 million out-of-court loan settlement with Bank Islam.

He said Khalid had failed to explain a series of business deals granted to a particular company shortly after the loan settlement.

Saifuddin ( left ) had stressed that he was not suggesting Khalid to be a corrupt politician but merely that he had issues of integrity as the menteri besar of Selangor.

However, Khalid said if PKR does not follow through its allegations with an MACC report, it would only lead to more speculation.

'End the speculation'

"Failure to do so can only invite speculation that these accusations are politically-motivated and in bad faith," he said.

Khalid also pledged that he would extend his full cooperation should an investigation be initiated against him.

"I also reserve my right to initiate any legal proceedings arising from defamatory statements made against me," he said.

In the meantime, Khalid said, he would continue to serve as menteri besar with the "fullest commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance".

F ollowing Saifuddin's allegation this morning, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang ( right ) also called on PKR to lodge a report against Khalid with the MACC.

"Gerakan Youth would like to remind PKR not to 'cook up' any story to justify the replacement of the Selangor menteri besar with their preferred candidate, (PKR president) Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also (Opposition Leader) Anwar Ibrahim’s wife.

"We challenge PKR to report the matter to MACC immediately if it believes its allegation is true," Tan said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, in a rare show of solidarity, Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia, which has traditionally been critical of Pakatan, urged the opposition coalition to close ranks.

“This current episode in which there seems to be a constructive political attempt to removal the current Selangor menteri besar not only robs the community of a viable opposition but creates doubt on the ability and cohesiveness of Pakatan if they are to come into power.

 

“Hindraf hopes in all sincerity that the Pakatan parties can get their act together and continue to participate in the political front as a credible and viable opposition for the benefit of the community,” said the association’s chief P Waythamoorthy.

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