Why only Khir Toyo

Ahmad Lutfi Othman

Earlier, I planned to sideline the issue of water at Selangor state which triggered a mass demonstration last Sunday. The controversy of water tariff increase in the most developed state, which is 37 percent, I believe is related to some complains I lodged 10 years ago to MACC involving Dr Mohd Khir Toyo. Those complaints were regarding the expensive cost of water supply and the fixation of water pipes.

In this country, many public amenity projects such as clean water supply, electric supply, road construction(including drains), schools, clinics, and hospitals are usually manipulated to generate more wealth for cronies of elite enforcement officers. The actual value of funding cost, which comes from the people's money doubles, especially when everything is managed through direct negotiations whereas 'drum beating' about open tenders is merely a political gimmick to pretend openness and honesty.

In Selangor case, the funding cost of old pipes' substitution of about 6000km is more than RM2 billion. Unfortunately, SYABAS(through its CEO, Rozali Ismail, who is earning almost RM500,000 per month) took advantage to earn more money as the concession company is permitted by the Federal Government to increase water tariff. Not only is the agreement to get the local pipe supply not followed, Rozali is even said to be the pipe supplier for SYABAS!

However, while undergoing physiotherapy at HUKM, Cheras following my bypass seven months ago-- on Monday morning, 6 December - I received many calls and text messages. It is quite weird as many congratulated me because Dr Khir with another person(the one I mentioned once before, Shamsuddin Hayroni, in one of the complaints to the MACC) were arrested by MACC and charged at court. Many people linked these corruption charges against Khir with me although the stand of the case differs.

Looking carefully at the case selected by Attorney General to charge Khir, it might be the most trivial case ever reported.

I admit that efforts to expose Khir's power abuse, even when it was not even a year after he was appointed Chief Minister of Selangor state, were quite 'peculiar'. Not satisfied with tens of complaints lodged with the MACC, I also distributed flyers, memorandums, and media statement(including conducting a press conference at the lobby of the Selangor state assembly where Khir tabled the Selangor state budget); published newsletters (but all the pieces were raided at the printing press before they could be distributed), organized public forum at a hotel near Stadium Merdeka, campaigned at Tanjung Karang(including Khir's house at Simpang Lima)

Looking accurately at the forewords in my recent book, which assembles 'Catatan Hujung' from Harakah, Dinsman quoted : "At that time, he (Ahmad Lufti) was obsessed with Khir Toyo's bribery issue to the extent even in the by election at Kedah, he spread information about Khir Toyo's involvement in bribery during the campaigns. Maybe, no one is really committed in the cause they fight for as how Ahmad Lutfi is in this issue."

On one evening, 6 December, a journalist from TV Selangor asked for my opinion since Khir is not arrested based on the complaints that I have gathered previously. It is true that the case chosen by the MACC is not related at all to my complaints which are more than 20 (total waste for me as I walked up and down to MACC office at Putrajaya and Shah Alam). Actually, I myself forgot about the details of the old cases, I just carried out my responsibility after providing bundles of documents not only from reliable sources but sources closely linked to Khir. Whatever it is, I am still happy to have unearthed such power abuse cases involving a big amount of public money.

However, many are aware that with the phenomenon of 'selected crime charges' in this country especially when it is related to BN politicians. I also criticized a titular award to one of the higher officers who had been suspected of some 'trickery'.(It is understood that among the politicians and those 'taken care' of by the UMNO elite include enforcement officers such as police officers)

Although the 'luck' of my complaint is insignificant,from the beginning, I realized that the effort to unlock the corruptions of the 'big fish' who are still in power is not easy as thought. MACC officers, in many matters, are not willing to co-operate, what more when it comes to our efforts or even our initiatives to rescue the public's money and uphold moral integrity.

MACC investigation officers, especially from Selangor branch, are more interested to dig out the secrets of those who leaked the confidential documents to me. Some businessmen and entrepreneurs who were suspected of channeling the information to me have been blacklisted

I have done everything in that case to the extent that my publication business had to be terminated due to many obstacles. Many 'mysterious events' also occurred during critical times. Leave it, I'm not interested to dig out past stories. As I strictly mentioned before, there are many cases listed involving Khir, but he is not UMNO's main man who is the most problematic in term of bribery. There are many who are committing similar offenses even in a bigger scale but nothing has been exposed. As a media person, I have more opportunities to 'sensationalize' Khir's bribery reports

Now, without waiting for MACC's further actions, Khir was already punished by the public in the previous general election. He not only lost power and influence(isn't the position of the Selangor MB 'appetizing' with all the luxuries besides the power and ability to gain political support in UMNO for himself). Even his friends who were 'close' to him have abandoned him. Suddenly, no more praises as in the past. This itself is a form of abuse, which is maybe worse than being dragged to court.

UMNO has openly rejected Khir, even Prime Minister Najib Razak has appointed his man, Noh Omar, to play an important role in the UMNO state liaison committee. Najib is the leader of the UMNO state liaison and Noh is his deputy. Although Khir may still be appointed the ppposition leader in state assembly, just like two former Chief Ministers; Mahadir Khalid at Kedah and Tajol Rosli Ghazali at Perak (before the power-grab), the future of his political career is in question. Khir has become a big liability for Selangor UMNO. No one will lose if he has to be sacrificed. Selangor is the most important state to be regained by UMNO and at any cost.

Najib is likely to use Khir's case to prove that BN is very serious in handling bribes and determined to curb corruption. However, I am confident that many will not believe this. This 'plastic' act is outdated and the motive is crystal clear. UMNO not only needs to drag more high profile cases to court before its image can be cleansed, it even needs more reforms to empower MACC.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi even did the same 'plastic' act to hoodwink the people seven years ago. For the first time, as mirrored in 2004 general election, many took the bait and channeled their support back to him. Dr Mahathir's black record of 23 years, made people want to trust in Abdullah to bring changes. Despite the fact he gained extraordinary support in PRU11, Abdullah suddenly forgot everything after he won. Many corruption cases brought to the court were dropped. Consequently, he was punished in March 2008.

Certainly, the charges against Khir cannot rescue Najib. Thus, I am not confident that it has connections with the predicted snap polls that many have been talking about.

What more when people view it as political rhetoric. It just makes the people feel cheated and belittled. Even if the Attorney-General is serious about nailing Khir, I don't understand why other cases which have strong evidence are not selected. Most importantly, other complaints involving other VVIPs are neglected.

(Translation by Dinesweri Pupanadan, Malaysia Chronicle)