Kapar MP S Manikavasagam said PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail encouraged him carry on his “crusade against corruption” when the duo met this afternoon.

NONE “The meeting was very good,” the outspoken PKR leader told Malaysiakini when contacted.

“She told me to keep up the good fight, and that we should press on with our fight for a clean government," he added.

In addition to the encouragement, however, Manikavasagam ( right ) said Azizah had also “advised”  him against airing the party’s dirty linen in public.

"She just told me to tone down my talking to the press," said the first-term lawmaker.

    

The outspoken parliamentarian had sought the party president’s advice after his stormy testimony at the Selangor assembly’s Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) public hearing over the alleged sand-smuggling controversy yesterday.

Manikavasagam had alleged that elements within the PKR-led state government were covering up incidence of illegal sand-mining involving the government-owned Kuala Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB).

At the conclusion of the three-day hearing, however, the committee ruled that it had found no evidence to substantiate claims that there was corruption in KSSB’s sand-mining operations.

Sand-stealing a BN legacy

Earlier today, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim declared the Selcat hearings to have been successful.

NONE “The public hearing ( left ) has helped clarify many issues that arose on the State’s sand mining industry, including (alleged) cases of illegal sand mining and issues of the management of KSSB - a wholly-owned subsidiary of Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI),” said Khalid in statement.

“According to the evidence given, it is clear that illegal sand mining in Selangor has been occurring long before the Pakatan Rakyat took over the state government administration,” he added.

The Selcat hearing also revealed how the previous administration under the BN failed to bring illegal sand mining activities, said Khalid.

“In the past, this crime has never been raised by the BN  administration, because this activity provided financial resources for personal and party interests,” said Khalid.

Khalid also defended KSSB, saying it was set up in order to return proceeds from Selangor’s natural resources to the rakyat through the government’s Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) programme.

“Before KSSB, the state government only received a royalty in return for the sale of sand.

NONE “With KSSB, which controls mining and sales activities in the state, the rakyat can now enjoy both the royalties and profits from the sale of sand. KSSB’s presence has also resulted in a sand market that is stable, as well as one able to meet the rising demands with time,” he said.

As proof, the MB compared the former BN state administration’s sand revenues to his administration.

“Collection of sand royalties under the BN government amounted to RM3.4 million in 2005 and 2006, and RM2.9 million in 2007.

“After Pakatan Rakyat took over, the revenue almost tripled to RM6.3 million in 2008 and RM5.4 million in 2009.

“Although there was a reduction in royalty collection in 2009, the figure is still double that collected by the BN government,” he revealed.

“This fact demonstrates the shallowness of Umno leaders who beat their chests in 2007 claiming that revenue from sand mining under the BN hit RM21.5 million!” added the Selangor MB.

He also said the past figures had been padded by quarrying activities in Selangor forest reserves.

“Is it possible that (the BN) did not know the difference between sand mining and quarrying?” he noted.

Proof of transparency

NONE Admitting that the complete stamping out of illegal sand mining remains a challenge, ( left ) Khalid said his administration will strive to curb it by controlling the issuance of licenses and holding open tenders to qualified contractors.

“A special committee headed by the state secretary will work hard, through weekly meetings, to improve strategies for combatting sand stealing,” he said.

He also addressed the issue of bonuses given out to KSSB personnel, saying that his administration has noted the rakyat’s concerns and will be more discerning in the future.

“Selcat’s public hearing session proves that the Selangor government will not cover up any fraud or abuse of power, in line with our commitment to the principles of transparency and accountability,” said Khalid.