fz.com, Nov 14, 2013
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Rather than taking punitive measures against the MPKj president, Abdul Khalid said he will only do so if it was proven that the latter committed fraud.
SHAH ALAM (Nov 13): Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid
Ibrahim seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes
to taking firm action over the fiasco in the Kajang Municipal Council
(MPKj).
Rather than taking punitive measures against MPKj president Datuk
Hasan Nawawi Abd Rahman who unlawfully approved a RM10 million
development charges discount or investigating the allegations laid out
against 10 possible rogue councillors, Abdul Khalid placated both
parties.
Cornered during a press conference here today, Abdul Khalid said he
will only take action against Hasan if it was proven that the latter
committed fraud in approving the discount for certain contractors.
“Before Pakatan Rakyat took over, discounts were given under
Barisan Nasional (BN) without taking into consideration the process of
approval and all that. This indulgence is a continuous nasty culture of
the BN legacy.
“What Pakatan is now doing, what Datuk Teng (Chang Kim), I and the
administration are doing, is to make sure that every decision now is
well processed. We do not want this to repeat itself by correcting the
culture.
“However, measures will be taken (against Hasan) if it’s proven
that there was fraud. We come from a reformed group where fairness and
justice is important. We won’t take any action based on speculative
basis,” said Abdul Khalid.
This is despite an audit by the Selangor Financial Officer which
has disclosed that MPKj lost RM10 million in revenue after Hasan gave
the discount to developers involved in eight projects in the township.
A second audit by the State Secretary confirmed the earlier audit,
saying it was a breach of Section 33 of the Local Government Act and by
right, should be cause for disciplinary action or even an investigation
by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Touching on the possibility of any investigation being taken
against the councillors who allegedly benefited from council contracts,
Abdul Khalid said he has instructed the councillors and Hasan to have a
meeting and discuss the issue.
“Some of the information may not be totally true. So, allegations
cannot be a public discussion. I’ve already asked the councillors and
also the council president to have their own meeting and open up all the
allegations.
“They are to find out whether the allegations are correct and the
councillors have conducted themselves improperly. Only then can we come
in to make the corrective action,” said Abdul Khalid.
According to fz.com report dated Nov 11 titled ‘Kajang Irish
standoff lays bare council mess’, Hasan however has a trump card in a
dossier that he claimed he has evidence alleging that 10 councillors has
requested or benefited from council contracts.
This could lead to the gentle treatment by the state government.
To make matters worse, prior to Abdul Khalid’s instructions, Hasan
and his councillors were at an impasse when all 23 councillors decided
to boycott him, leading to a walkout and the councillors refusal to
convene for council meetings.
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