Pakatan: Khir's arrest is just an election gimmick

Khir insists he is not corrupt

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Pakatan Rakyat leaders accused the BN government of selective prosecution, questioning why it was only ready to press the "smaller" charges against the scandal-hit Khir Toyo, while ignoring the string of other, more serious graft complaints lodged against the former Selangor chief minister.

“We can’t help but to think that this is an election gimmick. It appears to have been negotiated and brokered. After all, why is Khir charged only for this land deal involving the Balinese-stye luxurious home and not the other corruption cases he has been accused of,” PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Don't hoodwink the public again

Indeed, it has been the normal practise of top BN leaders including former premier Abdullah Badawi to make a show of going after graft – the top scourge of the nation and the most commonly-cited reason for foreign investors withdrawing to other countries - just prior to elections.

During Badawi’s time, big-names like Perwaja Steel’s Eric Chia and former Land and Co-operative Development Minister Kasitah Gaddam were also charged for cheating and corruption crimes. Chia, a well-known crony of Mahathir’s, was prosecuted for criminal breach of trust involving RM76.4 million.

But despite the brouhaha, Eric was acquitted in June 2007 and Kasitah was acquitted in August 2009.

“Is this serious or just pre-GE drama,” asked DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Polls drama

Kit Siang, the MP for Ipoh Timur, was referring to widespread talk of general election that could come as early as March next year. There is even speculation that Sarawak would hold its state polls next month.

A day ago, Prime Minister Najib Razak had strengthened the rumours of snap general elections at the BN national congress with a strident speech attacking his political rivals. However, at a press conference held later, he insisted it was just gossip.

Nonetheless, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has himself predicted early polls, warning his Pakatan colleagues they could not take the risk of not getting ready.

As for the 45-year old Khir, a dentist before he was made the Selangor MB by former premier Mahathir Mohamad, the list of corruption allegations levelled against him throughout his decade long tenure is long indeed.

Long list of complaints

His successor, Pakatan's Khalid Ibrahim, wants him to explain the allegedly unauthorised and costly purchase of land in the Middle-East, a spending spree running into millions during official overseas trips to Disney land plus the transfer of some RM10 million ringgit belonging to the state from the Bakti account.

In turn, Khir has been a thorn in the Pakatan's flesh, trying his best to destabilise Khalid's administration and wrest back control of the state government. He has accused Khalid's office of illegal sand-mining activities and neglecting the welfare of the Malay constituents.

There is also speculation that Khir was part of a Selangor Umno conspiracy to topple the Pakatan state government by using the MACC to press frivolous graft charges against its executive councilors. This move had led to the tragic death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock.