An officer Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's office has dismissed PKR's allegation that his boss had favoured a company for an affordable housing project, for personal gain as alleged by PKR.

 

Speaking at a forum last night, executive communication officer Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin stressed that the Eco World Bhd was granted the project at Sungai Sering, Hulu Kelang based on its expertise in construction.

 

"The Selangor Housing and Property Board evaluated that the affordable housing project could be handled by Eco World as their workmanship is of better quality and faster as their expertise were transferred from SP Setia to Eco World," he was reported to have said by state official portal Selangorkini .

 

Federal government-owned Permodalan Nasional Berhad launched a takeover of SP Setia in 2011, prompting an exodus including its chairperson to the company in question.

He added that Eco World was chosen after a long tender process involving a total of five companies.

PKR in a 91-page document detailing its case against Khalid had questioned the project which was granted to the company just months after Khalid's out-of-court settlement of RM66 million loan with Bank Islam.

PKR said that this was because Eco World's chairperson had acted as a “broker” for Khalid’s out-of-court settlement.

It also alleged that the alleged "broker" is Umno-linked, and has known ties to former Finance Minister Daim Zainuddin.

Malaysiakini has contacted Eco World but has yet to receive a response.

Land sold via tender

However, speaking at a forum entitled entitled: "Selangor Crisis: Khalid Ibrahim betrayed Pakatan?" in Kuala Lumpur, Shazni,  rubbished the allegation as "inaccurate".

Shazni also reportedly denied that Khalid was involved in the tender of the controversial Canal City project.

 

He said it was Permodalan Negeri Selangor Berhad (PNSB) which had decided to develop the 1,123 acres of land at Canal City and a committee was formed to consider six companies who have bid for the project.

 

"The evaluation committee finally decided Tropicana Corp Berhad won the tender and Abdul Khalid Ibrahim's name never appeared (in the decision making).

 

“Khalid was present at the meeting with PNSB when Tropicana Corp was announced as the tender winner but he had no power to change or reject the decision," he said at the forum.

 

Tropicana Corp had signed a joint venture with PNSB to develop the said land but the deal turned sour as it sold part of the land to the company in question for RM470 million for a quick profit.

 

Shazni said this violated the joint venture agreement and the state government has since demanded that it pay back in full what it had owed for the Canal City land including that which it had sold to Eco World.

 

"If Tropicana Corp was Khalid's crony, he would have given the company leeway but that did not happen," he said.

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