Caretaker Selangor executive council member Elizabeth Wong ( below ) yesterday clarified allegations of "abuse" of caretaker government guidelines through handing out of bonuses and land titles after the dissolution of the state assembly.

NONE Speaking at a forum on caretaker government roles organised by PKR-think tank Institut Rakyat yesterday, she said that the issue of RM300 bonus for state employees was merely mentioned by caretaker Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim when asked by reporters.

"The media were there and they asked how he would rate his exco's performance, to which he said he had decided to give a bonus to all state employees.

"The decision was made prior (to dissolution)," she said after reading electoral watchdog Bersih's "name and shame" list which included Selangor.

The list mentions three instances of the state government breaking caretaker guidelines, the second being a RM2.46 million allocation for a neighborhood safety programme.

"That was an announcement that I myself made before the dissolution of the state assembly. I only made the announcement to two media outlets - and the news only came out on April 5," she added.

However, she admitted, when commenting on villagers in Bestari Jaya being granted land titles, the existence of some "grey areas" where the state needs to exercise caution.

"The policy for these land titles were made in 2010. But I have spoken to my colleagues and there might be some grey areas here that we should think about," she added.

However, she was all for more discussion on the topic of caretaker government as it had been ignored in previous elections.

"We are very cautious now because there is so much scrutiny. But our commitment is to make the state government administration more transparent," she added.

Against polls violence

Wong was also in disagreement with Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU)'s recent pledge to stop foreigners from voting at the polls.

NONE "We (PKR) don't want any violence outside polling stations because it will turn away people from coming and voting. That is something we don't want. We need people to come out and vote," she said.

"How would you identify (foreigners)? I don't see how anyone could stop anyone from voting," she added.

The 150-minute forum also featured constitutional law expert Tommy Thomas, DAP strategist Ong Kian Ming, Bersih's Dr Farouk Musa, and Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research's Ibrahim Suffian, apart from the opening address by PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

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