Umno is trying to fool the rakyat over the issue of illegal sand-smuggling in Selangor and posing as a jaguh kampung (village champ), it has been claimed.

NONE In a hard-hitting statement today,  Faekah Husin ( left ), the political secretary to the Selangor menteri besar, said this is shown by Umno leaders pointing fingers at the state government over illegal sand-mining in Selangor while washing their hands of any role in the matter.

“Wild accusations, factual errors and ignorance of the laws clearly illustrates their true intention, which is not to solve the problem of sand-smuggling but to only project themselves as political jaguh kampung ,” said the lawyer-cum-political activist.

National as well as state Umno leaders have not let up their criticism of the Pakatan Rakyat-led Selangor government over illegal sand-mining, ever since PKR Kapar parliamentarian S Manikavasagam exposed the issue in May.

azlan Selangor Umno Youth yesterday submitted documents to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on the issue, a few days after state Umno deputy chairperson Noh Omar claimed he had proof of irregularities last Saturday.

                                

Faekah, however, said such moves and attacks against Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim by Umno leaders like Sementa state assemblyperson Abdul Rahman Palil belie their ignorance or shallow knowledge of federal and state laws and powers.

Abdul Rahman had criticised Khalid for calling for federal assistance in tackling sand-smuggling.

“It is as if he (Abdul Rahman) does not know the powers possessed by the federal government and that enforcement directives can be issued by federal authorities without having to refer to the state government,” said Faekah.

She also expressed disappointment with the federal government’s failure to tackle sand-smuggling despite being empowered to do so.

“The federal constitution clearly states that security and enforcement of laws in the states are the responsibility of the federal government,” she pointed out.