A DAP leader has lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency urging for an investigation into five recent projects by the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) which may have breach anti-graft laws.

Bandar Klang state assemblyperson Teng Chang Khim said investigations should be launched into three of the council's recent purchases - a set of new uniforms for its councillors, a costly ceremonial mace and 10 thoroughbred horses for a mounted crime prevention unit.

Aside from this, he said the ACA should also look into the unusually high expenditures for two other multi-million ringgit projects to build a new recreation park and to upgrade the Padang Sultan Sulaiman.

When contacted, Teng said Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo should take stern action against MPK president Mohd Sharif Yusof for his wasteful expenditures.

"The (MPK) chief should be removed immediately regardless of whether the ACA finds an element of corruption in these expenditures. The manner with which he managed public funds has caused a loss of confidence by the public in the council," he added.

Dead horse

In his report, Teng raised several questions over the MPK's recent expenditure on 36 sets of new uniforms and a ceremonial mace.

"The ACA should consider these issues: who came up with the idea for the uniforms? Who received the contract and how did they come up with the price?... These are unnecessary expenditures," he said.

The controversial issue involving the uniforms emerged after a group of MCA, Gerakan and MIC councillors refused to don the proposed attire of a baju kurung (for the women) and a baju Melayu and songkok (for the men).

This prompted questions as to whether the council had spent unnecessarily on the uniforms which were later revealed to cost more than RM500 per set. The council also admitted that it spent RM100,000 to purchase the ceremonial mace.

Teng also raised issue over the council's RM250,000 expenditure on 10 thoroughbred horses from Australia and England to equip its new crime prevention unit, along with the construction of a stable and roofed paddock.

He said the ACA should start by investigating the reasons behind the purchase of the expensive thoroughbred horses.

"Who was responsible for choosing the horses and who approved their purchase? The ACA should also look into the individual costs for the separate projects," he said.

Teng had earlier claimed that one of the horses purchased by the council had died shortly after the first batch of six horses arrived in Malaysia. However, this was denied by MPK secretary Mokhtar Ahmad.

RM10m park

On his two other complaints, Teng said the ACA should review two other multi-million projects approved by the municipal council.

One of these projects, he said, is a RM10 million deal to build a recreation park close to the Istana Shah Alam in Klang.

"The MPK has said that there would be a fountain, and man-made waterfall, a royal stairway and a four-storey tower. But these should not justify a RM10 million expenditure," he noted.

Teng said that another project which should be re-evaluated is the upgrading works carried out at the Padang Sultan Sulaiman in 2001 which cost almost RM3 million.

According to figures listed out by the state assemblyperson, the MPK had reportedly spent RM2 million on upgrading the track and sports facilities, while RM800,000 was spent on other works such as improvements in the drainage, placement of a new fence, as well as addition of other facilities such as a jogging track and a playground.

The state government has said that the spate of development was in line with the state's vision to confer Klang with the royal city status.