Former Selangor menteri besar Mohamad Khir Toyo said serving six months in jail for corruption changed him and taught him not to waste public funds.
Noting that he was previously reluctant to talk about his experience in prison, Khir said over time, he accepted that everything happened as God’s will.
"My experience gives me the opportunity to think about the correction that needs to be done so that we will not waste public funds and live up to past mistakes," he told Malaysiakini in an interview recently.
"Everyone makes mistakes in their life. But just how big is the mistake? And if the mistake is done intentionally or not, that's the second question.
"What is important is how are we rectifying these mistakes, how we accept the mistakes and how we correct ourselves to face future challenges. That is the most important thing," he said.
Khir became menteri besar at the age of 35 when he was elected the Sungai Panjang assemblyperson for the first time in the 1999 general election.
He replaced Selangor menteri besar Abu Hassan Omar and served in the position from Aug 18, 2000, until March 13, 2008, when BN’s state leadership lost to Pakatan Rakyat.
In 2008, Selangor BN collapsed by winning only 20 state seats out of 56, while Pakatan, which at the time consisted of PKR, DAP, and PAS, won 36 seats.
Khir then became the Selangor state assembly opposition leader before resigning due to corruption allegations in December 2010.
Khir was charged with corruption for obtaining for himself and his wife Zahrah Kechik, two lots of land and a house at No 8 & 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1L, from Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Hayroni, at RM3.5 million - a lower price than the RM6.5 million Ditamas paid for it in 2004.
The former Selangor MB allegedly entered into the transaction with the knowledge that Shamsuddin had dealings with him in his official capacity as the state’s chief executive at that time.
He was found guilty and handed a 12-month prison sentence by the Federal Court in September 2015.
He was released in March 2016 on a parole order following six months in prison.
Khir, who expressed his intention to contest the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat recently, said he now prefers to spend his time with the local people despite not getting media attention.
When asked about his daily routine apart from activities in the constituency, Khir, without further elaboration, said he was involved in the food business.
‘I don’t hold a grudge’
On his life in prison, he said it taught him to change his outlook on his life, besides having spent a lot of time reading books and the Quran.
"Should we take revenge? For me, it is not necessary. Vengeance destroys the soul, and forgiveness builds the soul. That's why I don't hold a grudge.
"People can say this is a political prosecution as my trial was completed and disposed of while the court case of DAP chairperson Lim Guan Eng was withdrawn," he added.
Khir was referring to the Penang High Court freeing Lim in September 2018 from two graft charges over the alleged conversion of state land status and purchase of a bungalow at below market value.
The court ruling came four months after Pakatan Harapan took over Putrajaya by defeating BN in the 2018 general election.
Khir said he refused to compare his fate with the lives of others because he accepted what happened and wanted to continue on with his life.
"I just want to tell the community that I have learned a lot, I am aware of what is right and wrong. For me, I cannot repeat the past mistake," he added. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.