Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim today rubbished Barisan Nasional's claims that they are misusing state machinery by setting up his administration at the Hulu Selangor District Office.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the state legislative assembly sitting in Shah Alam today, Khalid claimed that what he was doing was considered “standard practice”.  

“I would like to ask the federal government if they use the offices of (government agencies like) Kemas, Rela and the Communications Department,” he said.

He added that as the government of the day, they had the right to use the state facilities.

“It’s like I am now in the MB’s office in the State Assembly building, but I am answering political questions... The government of the day are allowed to use the facilities,” he said.

Khalid said this in response to request by Selangor Umno for the former to vacate the Hulu Selangor District Office.

'Tides have turned'

The menteri besar had set up camp in the district office in order to facilitate meetings with locals, in view of the upcoming by-election.

When asked if the neutrality of district officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahalan, who is returning officer of the by-election would be compromised, Khalid let off a chuckle.

"This is the strangest question that I have been asked in a long time."

He said such allegations were often made by Pakatan Rakyat coalition parties but for BN to make such claims showed that the "tides have turned".

Yesterday, Wanita Umno information chief Hamidah Osman protested Khalid's presence in the district office and wants the returning officer replaced because she believes his neutrality had been compromised.