Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Ahmad Said Hamdan is expected to apologise to Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

ahmad said hamdan aca director The apology is related to Ahmad Said’s ( right ) statement that there was possible abuse of power by Khalid in donating 24 cows for slaughter during Hari Raya Haji in 2009.

The parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement today - negotiated since this morning - which will be formally recorded before Justice Lau Bee Lan tomorrow.

Khalid indicated today that he does not intend to seek damages, but the terms of settlement will only be known tomorrow.

He had named Ahmad Said and the government as respondents in the suit. Sankara Nair represented Khalid, while senior federal counsel Noorin Badaruddin appeared for the respondents.

Ahmad Said had, at a press conference in Penang four years ago, said Khalid could be charged with abuse of power in the purchase of the cows and maintenance of a luxury car that he personally owned.

However, Khalid was cleared by the MACC about a year later and the decision was affirmed by the commission's operations review panel in July 2010.

In his statement of claim filed on April 27, 2009, Khalid said Ahmad Said's remark meant that he was dishonest in his private and official capacity, guilty of corrupt practice, untrustworthy, unprincipled, had committed a criminal offence, was unethical, abused his position and was an unfit politician.

NONE Ahmad Said had “crossed the lines of common decency” by making such an allegation, said Khalid (left ), who contended that the claims were baseless, reckless and made with gross negligence to tarnish his reputation.

Khalid, the Ijok assemblyperson and Bandar Tun Razak MP, said the statement was a distortion of the truth, made out of malice and in bad faith, resulting in public hatred, ridicule, scorn and alienation. It had also affected his public image.

He said his reputation had been tarnished and that he had suffered distress, anxiety and embarrassment. He sought general, exemplary and aggravated damages.

Ahmad Said and the MACC should have known that the commission only has investigatory powers and it is the attorney-general who has power to prosecute, Khalid noted.

‘Not one case of abuse of power’

Outside the courtroom, Khalid said he was thankful to Allah for the settlement and that the issue was never about money but to preserve his reputation and dignity as a Muslim and menteri besar.

NONE “My wife and my children are thankful that this case is nearing resolution as it had affected the family by painting a picture that I was willing to abuse my power in matters pertaining to religion - that is, the practice of korban (ritual slaughter of cattle during Hari Raya Haji).

“I believe the MACC and police should do their job professionally and not let themselves be influenced by people who have their own agenda.

“As Selangor MB, I have placed emphasis on integrity, transparency and trustworthiness. Over the past five years, not even one senior officer or exco member from Selangor has been charged with abuse of power and corruption.”

He added that this unblemished record would serve as a good indicator when voters make their choice during the next election.