theSun | THURSDAY JULY 9 2009 7

news without borders

MACC to investigate
allegations against Khir
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commis-
sion (MACC) is to investigate allegations that
Selangor opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr
Mohd Khir Toyo spent RM24 million on a
Balinese-style mansion in Shah Alam during
his tenure as Selangor mentri besar.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri
Ahmad Said Hamdan said the commission
had not received any complaint on the mat-
ter but had learnt of it and would obtain
more details from the Selangor state govern-
ment. A probe can be launched at any time,
he said when contacted by China Press on
Tuesday.
On Monday, Mohd Khir, brushing off
allegations that his property was worth RM24
million, said he had secured a RM3.5 million
loan to buy the house five years ago.
The Sungai Panjang assemblyman said
that if Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee
Lim, who had made the allegations, was
right about the price, the latter was welcome
to become his agent, sell the property and
take 50% of the earnings.
Ng has verbally accepted Mohd Khir’s
“offer”.
On Tuesday, Mohd Khir showed Sin
Chew Daily documents to prove that he
had secured the loan from the Hongkong
and Shanghai Bank and said he had had no
problem in repaying the monthly sum of
RM18,743, being now involved in a business
from which he makes RM50,000 a month.
“I was a mentri besar for eight years; on
top of it my businesses are expanding, would
I not be able to afford the house?” he asked,
in response to Ng’s query on how he could
Press Digest
by Kong See Hoh
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
afford the repayments on his assemblyman’s
monthy allowance of about RM8,000.
“Before I became the MB, I was a dentist
with a monthly income of RM60,000,” he
said.
Mohd Khir said he would sue Ng for
defamation. “I will not let him go,” he told
Sin Chew.
He also said a Balinese-style renovation
is “not as expensive as one thinks”, adding
that had he opted for Italian architecture, the
house would have cost more.
“I spent only RM60,000 on renovation. All
the transactions can be supported by docu-
ments. I don’t understand how Ng came up
with the figure of RM24 million.”
Mohd Khir said that apart from the new
house in Shah Alam, he owned another in
Sungai Besar which he had bought before he
became mentri besar. He said the contractor
hired to renovate the house had absconded
and he had no idea when it would be ready
for occupation.
Meanwhile, Selangor senior executive
council member Teresa Kok has urged the
Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and the MACC
to investigate Mohd Khir’s financial situ-
ation. She said the IRB should conduct an
audit of Mohd Khir’s tax returns for the past
10 years to ensure that taxes he had paid
were in tandem with his lifestyle.

RoC rescinds show-cause order

against assembly hall
THE Kedah Chinese Assembly Hall (KCAH) will
not face de-registration after all, following the
decision of the Registrar of Societies to rescind
a show cause order issued against it.
The assembly hall has been in crisis over
the last two months after it was directed by
the RoC to show cause why it should not be
de-registered over alleged anomalies including
a claim that its directors had exceeded their
powers in approving RM20,000 for the renova-
tion of its building.
KCAH president Cheng Lai Hock told Sin Chew
Daily he had received an official letter from the
RoC stating its decision not to pursue the matter
after the assembly hall had provided an explana-
tion.
While expressing relief at the turn of events,
Cheng said he hoped the RoC would conduct
indepth investigations into a matter before taking
such drastic action in the future. He likened its
issuance of the show cause order to “putting the
cart before the horse”.

MBPJ has poor planning With love from

skills, say residents Down Under
PETALING JAYA: The Residents Association of Section 5 PETALING JAYA: Malaysian
Petaling Jaya is questioning the local authority’s the effi- students in Sydney, Australia
ciency in planning and managing community projects. are pooling efforts to organise a
The association’s president Johan Tung Abdullah said charity event in aid of the Per-
this of the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), in reference tubuhan Penyayang Raudhah
to a stretch of pedestrian pavement along Jalan Gasing orphanage.
which had been replaced last December, although the The “With Love, Down Under
interlocking bricks were in excellent condition. Charity Gig” will feature Malay-
“These were torn up and replaced with another sian bands based in Australia,
surface, reportedly at a sum of RM1.2 million,” he said. Malaysian underground design-
In less than seven months, MBPJ decided to cut up ers and Malaysian foods.
several sections of the new pavement to install a sys- “Even though we are far
tem of disabled-friendly bricks – again with ratepayers’ away from home, we want to let
money, Johan said. The project is ongoing. our people know that we care.
“Why didn’t they plan it properly in the first place?” We would also like to increase
he asked, adding that while the association was all for awareness among young Malay-
disabled-friendly features in the neighbourhood, the sians abroad of the importance of
residents took the view that the local council had “bad giving back to society”, the event’s
planning” skills. director Erina Zahara Ellias said.
According to him, the council had also changed all A collaboration between
the road signs in Section 5 last year. Instead of using Australian Umno international
stickers on the signs, the entire signage including the clubs and the University of New
poles had been removed and replaced, which was South Wales Malaysian Students
unnecessary, he said. Organisation, the event on July
“We want to know how this accounts for ratepayers’ 11 will take place at the university
money. Is there a system where civil servants can spend in Sydney.
just because there’s a budget? There must be a proper Malaysian band Flop Poppy
system.” will be among those performing.
The association is also appealing for a reduction in Art exhibitions and films will also
the assessment rate – raised from 8% to 8.8% in 2006 be showcased.
– which it says is too high, especially when compared to
rates in Bukit Damansara (7%) and Bangsar (6%).
“There needs to be more responsibility and a uniform For more information and to
system. We want an explanation from MBPJ,” Johan make donations, visit http://with-
said. lovedownunder.wordpress.com