Ousted from office after being sacked from PKR, former Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim now wants the man who took over his job to resign for allegedly introducing a system which opens the doors to corruption.

Khalid, who is Port Klang assemblyperson, said this in reference to Selangor government’s decision to use a “cut-off” method to award projects and not only use open tenders.

The former MB said the "cut-off" method was used by BN before Pakatan Rakyat took over in 2008 and was replaced because "it gives room for graft and abuse of power".

"The fact is, the open tender system which has a thousand benefits is now polluted by the cut-off system which allows contracts to be awarded to those who are not the lowest bidder.

"(It) opens room for back-door negotiations, corruption and abuse of power and public funds.

"This is tragic because it is the people of Selangor who will have to pay again to fix subpar services funded by the public coffers," he said in hard-hitting statement.

Khalid says the "cut-off" method clearly failed to improve local government services like rubbish collection and clogged drains, which Azmin promised to resolve when he took over last September.

"Clearly the MB is too eager to project himself as a statesman through political rhetorics and drama.

"If this is the way of the new administration, I reiterate that the MB should resign for the sake of the people and give the job to someone who is really qualified," he said.

Azmin last week responded to Khalid’s speech in the state assembly by saying that the "cut-off" method is an improved version of the open tender as it takes into account yield and not just bidding value.

In this method, a bid at a price lower than the "cut-off" price earlier determined using statistical methods will be flagged as risky in terms of performance.

Khalid said Azmin has yet to deliver on his promise to resolve local government issues like rubbish collection and clogged drains, due to this "modified cut-off" method.

'The test for a leader'

On a separate matter, Khalid expressed fear that Selangor might bear huge legal and financial liabilities for cancelling the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex).

It may also scare away investors, who now think Selangor can at whim cancel their projects including those which benefit the people like public transportation, he said.  

Khalid says the announcement is "strange and doubtful" because Selangor is not part of the concession agreement between the concessionaire and the federal government.

"It’s easy to cancel something but what is the state’s alternative solution to the traffic woes of Klang Valley residents?

"I must stress that finding alternative at comparable cost and minimal negative impact is a test of a leader’s calibre,” he said.

Azmin cancelled the project which was a thorn in Khalid’s side, after the concessionaire failed to meet prerequisites set by Khalid in February last year.

The project was awarded by the Works Ministry, but the state has the jurisdiction on the use of land within its borders.