In a meeting with PAS MP Khalid Samad, Selangor menteri besar's lawyer denied that Khalid Ibrahim's debt with Bank Islam was settled by a Middle Eastern bank.

The Shah Alam MP said lawyer Mathew Thomas Philip denied the claim made by Khalid's special officer Azrul Azwar Ahmad Tajudin, who is also Bank Islam's ex-chief economist.

Philip is representing the menteri besar in his counter-suit against Bank Islam.

"The menteri besar's lawyer told me that no Middle Eastern bank had paid Khalid's debt," the PAS lawmaker told a press conference today.

Last week, Azrul ( left ) said Bank Islam agreed for Khalid's case to be resolved out of court through a deferred payment sale, which was revived by an Islamic banking institution from the Middle East.

Khalid Samad met the lawyers on this issue on Aug 16.

PKR's 91-page dossier against Khalid Ibrahim details the conflict of interest on the MB's part in settling his personal RM59.5 million debt with Bank Islam (without interest as at November 2013).

 

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli had said that Khalid had negotiated with third parties to settle his debt, which was later settled out-of-court.

'Details can't be revealed'

Meanwhile, Khalid Samad said that Philip had admitted that the out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam did take place and was made based on his own advice as a lawyer to Khalid.

 

"However, Philip said the details of the out-of-court settlement could not be revealed as he did not receive the green light from Khalid.

 

"He only confirmed that payment was made by Khalid to Bank Islam, but he also could not reveal the amount," said the Shah Alam MP, adding that Philip merely said that everything was 'above board'."

 

Khalid Samad ( left ) further explained that Philip himself had advised Khalid to opt for the out-of-court settlement as "it is hard to win a case against a bank in Malaysia, even when your case is strong".

 

He added that Philip also rubbished the menteri besar's claim that he will win RM300 million if he sues Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB).

 

"Philip said that no one can be sure that the menteri besar will win the case and even if he were to win, one could never be sure of the amount that will be rewarded," said Khalid Samad.

Malaysian Gazette apologises to Rodziah

Former Selangor exco Rodziah Ismail has today accepted an apology from news portal Malaysian Gazette which she regarded as defamatory.

Rodziah was commenting over the apology by the portal's journalist over an article titled ‘Rodziah lupa diri, tolak Khalid demi jawatan Ketua Wanita PKR’ (In rejecting Khalid, Rodziah forgets herself to be PKR Wanita chief).

However, she said the apology is not a resolution to the matter as the article is utterly irresponsible.

 

"Journalism ethics in Malaysia is deplorable and it seems that journalists are used as tools to spread false news," she said.

Selangor crisis today

9.14am: DAP Youth leader says columnist Ridhuan Tee Abdullah must apologise for suggesting Selangor will be 'darul babi' if MB Khalid Ibrahim is removed

9:48am: PAS rep Saari Sungib says he signed the statutory declaration primarily to reject the incumbent MB, but not to support PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as widely perceived

12pm: Sinar Harian speculates that PAS has a good chance of getting MB post, if the ruler rejects Wan Azizah or other PKR reps

12.39pm: PAS exco man Sallehen Mukhyi says president Abdul Hadi Awang didn't discuss PKR's Azmin Ali as MB , with sultan in July 31 meeting

2.55pm: MB crisis will hurt Pakatan in polls, but win expected, says DAP's Bukit Gasing rep

3.34pm: Selangor PAS reiterates that they are not interested in the MB post as it belongs to PKR

4.29pm: MB's lawyer denies claim by his aide that his debt was settled via a Middle Eastern bank, PAS MP Khalid Samad says

5.15pm: Sources close to MB says dissolution of the assembly will be one of the options put forth to the sultan