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Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has confirmed that he is vying for his third term in office in the coming general election as he has no plans to take up a federal post as yet. The 42-year-old politician, who has been menteri besar since 2000, did not mince his words when asked on his plans for the elections. “If people think I can contribute at the federal level, I can’t reject that (nomination) but as I would like to stress, there are two or three matters which I have yet to finish and I have to complete them,” he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview at his office in Shah Alam last week. “If I am given the chance, I really would like to continue with my work (at the state level),” he said, referring to his aim to further promote Selangor as a developed state. He added that any final decision on his political future will be left to the top party leaders. Consistently attacked Mohd Khir was appointed as menteri besar in the wake of a controversy when his predecessor, Abu Hassan Omar was removed over an alleged sex scandal in August 2000. His appointment was said to be a move to convince the palace following the scandal as Mohd Khir was then the Umno Youth religious bureau chair. A dentist by profession, he has not had an easy time since assuming the post as Mohd Khir has been consistently attacked over allegations of corruption, which he has denied.He also came under fire from the civil society for pushing the ‘zero squatters’ policy, which resulted in a series of emotionally-charged demolitions of squatters since early this year. Mohd Khir, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor chief, spoke at length on these issues and more during the 90-minute interview.As for the Umno elections next year, Mohd Khir appeared uncertain about his next move. He was reluctant to elaborate on the possibility of contesting for vice-presidency - where one of the three spots fell vacant in 2005 following the suspension of Mohd Isa Samad who was found guilty of practicing money politics. Mohd Khir’s supporters are said to be pushing the leader to move up the Umno hierarchy given the fact that he won a supreme council member seat in 2004 with the highest votes. “I will look at the other candidates first. If they are better than me, I will support them,” he said when quizzed on this. He stressed that he did not treat politics as a career but a mandate given by the people for him to serve the country. I am too old... However, he ruled out the possibility of contesting for the Umno Youth chief post. Prior to the last party elections in 2004, Mohd Khir was rumoured to have set his eyes on the post, but he contested for the supreme council post instead.“I think I am too... too... old for Youth chief (this time). There are better candidates with better plans, it’s better they contest. I have never thought of the post,” he said with a smile. Asked if he was referring to Umno Youth vice-chief Khairy Jamaluddin when he said ‘better candidates’, Mohd Khir replied that it is up to the members to decide as there are “two or three of them who can go up.” Khairy won his post in the last party elections uncontested and is seen as the would-be successor to his current boss, Hishammuddin Hussein who is set to move up.However, some of the grassroots members who are hoping to see a contest for the Umno Youth top post have brought up the names of Mohd Khir and Umno Youth exco Mukhriz Mahathir as possible contenders. Asked if his decision to not contest for Umno Youth chief was made to avoid a showdown with Khairy, who is Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s son-in-law, Mohd Khir did not give a direct answer. “I think he (Khairy) is better than me - for Umno Youth,” he said, adding that the two of them have no problems. “We meet, discuss on how to advance the Malays and the country. People say I am the kind of person who doesn’t put my ambition on top, but the future of our community (comes first),” he added. Highlights On contesting for Umno vice-presidency I don’t treat politics as a career, but the trust (placed in me by the people). I am starting to think where shall I go in future. The question is whether I am able to contribute to my country and the community. If there are better candidates, I will support them. The future of our religion and language is most important for me. It’s not about my own career. I never thought that people who hold positions should be considered powerful. I have been given the mandate so I shall do what I should do. I will look at the other candidates first, if they are better than me, I will support them. Federal post vs state post If people think I can contribute at the federal level, I can’t reject that (nomination) but as I would like to stress, there are two or three matters which I have yet to finish and I have to complete them. I would like to see Selangor as being the example of our developed nation in 2020. If I am given the chance, I really would like to continue with my work (at the state level). Then it’s up to the federal government to decide. If they think I can’t contribute, then it doesn’t matter, I will do whatever that I can. Umno Youth chief post I think I am too... too...old Youth chief. There are better candidates with better plans, it’s better that they contest. I have never thought of the post. Khairy and him I think he is better than me - for the Umno Youth (chief post). So far (we have) no problems. We meet, discuss on how to advance the Malays and the country. People say I am the kind of person who doesn’t put my ambition at the top but the future of our community (first).
Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo has stoutly defended his reputation by saying that all corruption complaints made against him were 'baseless'.He also refuted allegations that he had been dishing out land and government titles freely to a band of ‘cronies’ in the state ever since he assumed power in 2000.The 42-year-old menteri besar told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview last week that all land approvals were done by his predecessors while he merely "speed up the process"."Actually no land was given out under my time, no more land to be given when I become menteri besar. The land was given before me long time ago," he said at the 90-minute interview at his office.What he did, according to him, was to expedite the previous applications for the projects. "We need development, people need houses. That's why we speed up everything. Last time maybe there was a lot of red tape in the government departments (and when) we speed up the process, everything became easy," he added.No 1 on ACA list The central subject of the complaints against Mohd Khir was that he had allegedly abused his power to award land and government projects worth over hundred of millions ringgit to a group of cronies.One example was that the politician was alleged to have granted 400 acres of land in Bukit Cerakah, Shah Alam - which was turned into the Bukit Cahaya Agricultural Park later - in 2001 to four companies headed by same four directors.Among the top complainants against Mohd Khir was media activist Ahmad Lufti Othman, who had doggedly pursued cases against the menteri besar with relevant authorities and had filed so many corruption reports that himself could not remember the exact number.Acknowledging that a spate of reports to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had been filed against him, Mohd Khir revealed that he topped an ACA investigations list involving BN Selangor candidates during the last general election in 2004."On the ACA list itself, the first was my name, number one… If I am not honest, I wouldn't have submitted the list (to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) but I followed the instruction," he said.He added that the best defence to show that his name was cleared was when he was allowed to contest in the last election after the vetting process. "Every case has been settled, there is no basis - that's how I cleared my name," he said.He added that he was not sure whether there was any fresh ACA reports against him currently.
The Zakaria caseMeanwhile, on the case of Klang assemblyperson Zakarian Mohd Deros, the Selangor menteri besar said he has not made any decision whether to recommend the embattled politician to contest in the next election."We have to wait for the outcome of the (ACA and police) investigations. If we were to make a decision based on everyone's else views, then we will be in trouble," noted Mohd Khir.Zakaria, who is also former Klang council member, earned notoriety last year when it was found that he had built a palatial house in Klang without the approval of the local authorities and had defaulted on assessment payments for more than 10 years.He was fined RM24,000 by the Klang municipal council but subsequent investigations by the ACA were closed in May for lack of evidence.In August, Zakaria was left off the hook from facing 37 charges under the Companies Act after a small sum of fine was paid.On the prevalent problems besieging the state’s local authorities, especially graft related, Mohd Khir argued the proposal for local government elections was not feasible to push for better governance and choice of representatives.He said the problems in the local authorities were caused by the attitude of the civil servants rather than the current structure of the appointment system."How to reform the local authority with the same attitude of staff? (The problem) is not because of the structure of the local authority but their attitude and mindset."We need to change and do something drastic, something like 'electrical shock'," he added.The menteri besar further argued that local government elections would only cause "more problems" in a multi-racial country like Malaysia."We are multi-racial and multi-religious country and we are not matured yet to choose our representatives. We tend to choose (a leader) from our own community, (but) then the composition won't be balanced, that's the problem," Mohd Khir said.'Aye' to expenditure declaration but…On calls for the declaration of expenditures by elected representatives, Mohd Khir said he encouraged his state representative to declare their expenditures on the state’s website or as a report to the state.When asked on whether he would take the lead to do so, he appeared slightly hesitant and said all their expenditures were audited."The figures may be contradictory if there are too many reports and then there will be problems, (such as) sometimes you quote the wrong figures, it is creating more problems. More importantly (for us) is the procedures must be strictly followed," he said.Selangor BN state assemblypersons were reportedly entitled to an annual allocation from the state government of up to RM2 million. The oppositions are not eligible to claim for such allocation. Highlights of the interviewOn corruption I told the public before I went for the second term in 2004 general election that every candidate is vetted thoroughly by the ACA and the police. Those who have cases which were not cleared, we were not going to put them as candidates, including me. On the ACA list, the first was my name, number one. People make accusations. But I was cleared.On land approvalActually no land was given out under my time, no more land to be given when I became MB. The land was given before, long time ago. The (concerned) companies submitted the (development) plan - everything were done in accordance to the law. I want to make it clear that there is no more land. The land was given long time before. We need development, people need houses. We speed up everything. Last time maybe there is a lot of red tape in the government departments (and when) we speed up the process, everything became easy. You can ask any developer - have you ever seen me with them? No, I sit at home only.On Zakaria's candidacy in next election We will see. We send every (candidate's) name to the ACA. I am very firm (over) those who have a case (against them) and we are not going to (field) them as candidate, that is for sure. On mixed responses over the broom awardNothing is wrong with the broom award actually, because we have discussed this thing about one-and-a-half years back and we agreed (on it). We are not giving the broom to the person (but) to the department. We hope the head of the department will take action to those in their divisions who are not performing well. We want our civil servants to know their salaries are paid by taxpayers, including those who ride a bicycle in the village, while we travel in car and can't do our job well. Is that fair?On reforming the local authoritiesHow to reform the local authorities with the same attitude of staff? (The problem) is not because of the structure of the local authority but their (employees') attitude and mindset. We need to change and do something drastic, something like 'electrical shock', something must be done. Local elections will cause a lot more problems in Malaysia.
The Zakaria caseMeanwhile, on the case of Klang assemblyperson Zakarian Mohd Deros, the Selangor menteri besar said he has not made any decision whether to recommend the embattled politician to contest in the next election."We have to wait for the outcome of the (ACA and police) investigations. If we were to make a decision based on everyone's else views, then we will be in trouble," noted Mohd Khir.Zakaria, who is also former Klang council member, earned notoriety last year when it was found that he had built a palatial house in Klang without the approval of the local authorities and had defaulted on assessment payments for more than 10 years.He was fined RM24,000 by the Klang municipal council but subsequent investigations by the ACA were closed in May for lack of evidence.In August, Zakaria was left off the hook from facing 37 charges under the Companies Act after a small sum of fine was paid.On the prevalent problems besieging the state’s local authorities, especially graft related, Mohd Khir argued the proposal for local government elections was not feasible to push for better governance and choice of representatives.He said the problems in the local authorities were caused by the attitude of the civil servants rather than the current structure of the appointment system."How to reform the local authority with the same attitude of staff? (The problem) is not because of the structure of the local authority but their attitude and mindset."We need to change and do something drastic, something like 'electrical shock'," he added.The menteri besar further argued that local government elections would only cause "more problems" in a multi-racial country like Malaysia."We are multi-racial and multi-religious country and we are not matured yet to choose our representatives. We tend to choose (a leader) from our own community, (but) then the composition won't be balanced, that's the problem," Mohd Khir said.'Aye' to expenditure declaration but…On calls for the declaration of expenditures by elected representatives, Mohd Khir said he encouraged his state representative to declare their expenditures on the state’s website or as a report to the state.When asked on whether he would take the lead to do so, he appeared slightly hesitant and said all their expenditures were audited."The figures may be contradictory if there are too many reports and then there will be problems, (such as) sometimes you quote the wrong figures, it is creating more problems. More importantly (for us) is the procedures must be strictly followed," he said.Selangor BN state assemblypersons were reportedly entitled to an annual allocation from the state government of up to RM2 million. The oppositions are not eligible to claim for such allocation. Highlights of the interviewOn corruption I told the public before I went for the second term in 2004 general election that every candidate is vetted thoroughly by the ACA and the police. Those who have cases which were not cleared, we were not going to put them as candidates, including me. On the ACA list, the first was my name, number one. People make accusations. But I was cleared.On land approvalActually no land was given out under my time, no more land to be given when I became MB. The land was given before, long time ago. The (concerned) companies submitted the (development) plan - everything were done in accordance to the law. I want to make it clear that there is no more land. The land was given long time before. We need development, people need houses. We speed up everything. Last time maybe there is a lot of red tape in the government departments (and when) we speed up the process, everything became easy. You can ask any developer - have you ever seen me with them? No, I sit at home only.On Zakaria's candidacy in next election We will see. We send every (candidate's) name to the ACA. I am very firm (over) those who have a case (against them) and we are not going to (field) them as candidate, that is for sure. On mixed responses over the broom awardNothing is wrong with the broom award actually, because we have discussed this thing about one-and-a-half years back and we agreed (on it). We are not giving the broom to the person (but) to the department. We hope the head of the department will take action to those in their divisions who are not performing well. We want our civil servants to know their salaries are paid by taxpayers, including those who ride a bicycle in the village, while we travel in car and can't do our job well. Is that fair?On reforming the local authoritiesHow to reform the local authorities with the same attitude of staff? (The problem) is not because of the structure of the local authority but their (employees') attitude and mindset. We need to change and do something drastic, something like 'electrical shock', something must be done. Local elections will cause a lot more problems in Malaysia.
Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said he had done his best in the handling of a series of emotionally-charged demolitions of squatter houses and temples in the state.“I saw the pictures (of the demolitions), I feel very sad. I am in a difficult position - to choose between one family and 10 families. Of course, as a leader, I’ve to choose 10.“If I adopt the minority view, I am not being fair to everybody. I also cried (for them), but I need to choose,” he told Malaysiakini when asked on the controversies in a 90-minute interview at his office in Shah Alam last week.The menteri besar, who took office in 2000, added that the state government has provided alternatives to the squatters including better housing scheme and financial assistance before asking them to relocate.“We take action because we need to develop (the area) and fulfill our promise to the 80 percent (who agreed to move),” he said.He described the 20 percent who refused to budge as a “minority group influenced by opposition parties”.Open clashes A visibly upset Mohd Khir also lamented that the minority group should have given in to the rest and not to “refuse everything” that was offered.He revealed that even one of his relatives was not spared from eviction.“In Kampung Rimba Jaya, one of them is my uncle’s son who lived there. He came and see me (to ask for help) but I said ‘no’. The land doesn’t belong to the state, (and) if I don’t settle the issue today, it will come up in future,” the 42-year-politician asserted.Scenes of brutal confrontation emerged during the two most recent demolitions of squatters in Kampung Berembang near Ampang and Kampung Rimba Jaya in Shah Alam. In both occasions, local authority enforcement officers openly clashed with residents when they forced their way in to the squatter area to demolish the houses - with the aid of tear gas and water cannons - when the residents refused to budge. Dozens of arrests were also made.Since the demolitions, some of the defiant squatters, including women and children, are living in makeshift tents near their demolished homes. The spate of squatters demolition done under the name of development is in line with the ‘zero squatter’ policy set by the Selangor state government, which it had targeted to achieve two years ago. Social activists have criticised the high-handed actions in the demolition of squatter areas. Often the enforcement officers moved in even before the disposal of court cases where the residents had challenged the eviction order.
However, residents in Kampung Berembang - some of whom have lived there since the 1960s - won a minor court victory last week when a high court denied the developer possession of the land and set aside its injunction to prohibit evicted squatters from returning to the area.Kept changing ‘golf pose’ On the demolition of temples in Selangor which has upset the Indian community, Mohd Khir said the state government had to face the intractable issue of temples being built on private or reserved land.“If it is private land, we always put a condition that the landowner must provide (another piece of) land to relocate the temple. In fact, we force them to give some compensation to the local temple. “When we discussed (with the local residents), there is often no problem. However, when outsiders come into picture, there is problem - they make the matter worse,” the menteri besar claimed.Mohd Khir appeared to brush aside the criticism of MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu who was irked by the demolition of a 100-year-old temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya in late October.
“They created the story of 100-, 200-year-old temple, (which is) not true. We know the oldest temple in the state... I don’t know what happened to him (on why Samy Vellu had reacted the way he did) - we demolished the temple only after Deepavali,” he said.While the local authorities were stopped from demolishing the temple a few days before Deepavali, they however returned to complete the job soon after the Hindus’ most important festival.Mohd Khir stressed that the state government’s move to demolish the temple was not made abruptly and they had started discussions and negotiations with the local residents for years.“They kept on changing their ‘golf pose’ - we followed, but still we can’t do much,” he lamented.‘No big impact’ on BN chancesNevertheless, Mohd Khir remained optimistic and was of the view that such controversies would not jeopardise the ruling Barisan Nasional’s chances in Selangor in the next general elections due next year.“After we give clear explanation, the people will become more reasonable and accept it. The issue turns into a big issue often due to no clear explanation... We are very caring actually,” he emphasised.But he hoped voters do not cast their votes emotionally in the polls.“Sometimes we have to make unpopular decision, but that is the reality that we have to face. We don’t want to be a party that promise yang bukan-bukan (something not workable) but can’t fulfill them after the election.“The opposition knows they can never be the government so they promised macam-macam (all sort of things). They don’t really have commitment,” he argued.
Highlights of the interviewOn Kg Berembang and Kg Rimba JayaThose in Rimba Jaya and Berembang are a minority group which is not happy. They are less than 20 percent (of the total residents). We have discussed with them at the initial stage until we reached a decision that the majority are satisfied with, only then we act. These squatters are to be moved to a better place and housing rental is being paid by the developer, state government or local authority until their houses are completed. But there is a small group not happy because they applied for the land to be given to them or they argued the land was developed by them. We have explained that the land is privately-owned, not government-owned. We have many discussions with everybody. Take Rimba Jaya - we started talking about the issue five years back. Berembang was four years back.On the temple demolition in Shah AlamThey created the story of 100-, 200-year-old temple, (which is) not true. We know the oldest temple in the state. There are about 810 big temples in Selangor and thousand of small temples. I don’t know what happened to him (MIC president S Samy Vellu who was upset over the demolition). We demolished the temple after Deepavali. Impact on BN’s chances in general electionsRakyat has to see the performance of the BN government. We are not simply doing something, we are doing it for our future. Sometimes we have to make unpopular decision, but that is the reality we have to face. We don’t want to be a party that promise yang bukan-bukan but can’t fulfill them after the election. The opposition knows they can never be the government, they promised macam-macam. They don’t really have commitment.Like (PAS-led) Kelantan. Last time, they said they want to push for hudud law, what happen to that now? We don’t want to be a government that cheat the people. We want to be a government with integrity.On the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf)Hindraf is not something new, it has been moving in Selangor for three, four years. They have the agenda to turn the Malays into their enemy. We see it, it has been there for a long time. They questioned why Islam is higher than other religions when we know Islam is the official religion and it was agreed to during the Independence. They also questioned the bumiputeras’ rights.Criticisms against his leadershipI already have done my best. If people want to criticise, I can’t say anything. So far, Selangor is doing quite well. We have clear direction. We know what to do for the next five years.
However, residents in Kampung Berembang - some of whom have lived there since the 1960s - won a minor court victory last week when a high court denied the developer possession of the land and set aside its injunction to prohibit evicted squatters from returning to the area.Kept changing ‘golf pose’ On the demolition of temples in Selangor which has upset the Indian community, Mohd Khir said the state government had to face the intractable issue of temples being built on private or reserved land.“If it is private land, we always put a condition that the landowner must provide (another piece of) land to relocate the temple. In fact, we force them to give some compensation to the local temple. “When we discussed (with the local residents), there is often no problem. However, when outsiders come into picture, there is problem - they make the matter worse,” the menteri besar claimed.Mohd Khir appeared to brush aside the criticism of MIC president and Works Minister S Samy Vellu who was irked by the demolition of a 100-year-old temple in Kampung Rimba Jaya in late October.
“They created the story of 100-, 200-year-old temple, (which is) not true. We know the oldest temple in the state... I don’t know what happened to him (on why Samy Vellu had reacted the way he did) - we demolished the temple only after Deepavali,” he said.While the local authorities were stopped from demolishing the temple a few days before Deepavali, they however returned to complete the job soon after the Hindus’ most important festival.Mohd Khir stressed that the state government’s move to demolish the temple was not made abruptly and they had started discussions and negotiations with the local residents for years.“They kept on changing their ‘golf pose’ - we followed, but still we can’t do much,” he lamented.‘No big impact’ on BN chancesNevertheless, Mohd Khir remained optimistic and was of the view that such controversies would not jeopardise the ruling Barisan Nasional’s chances in Selangor in the next general elections due next year.“After we give clear explanation, the people will become more reasonable and accept it. The issue turns into a big issue often due to no clear explanation... We are very caring actually,” he emphasised.But he hoped voters do not cast their votes emotionally in the polls.“Sometimes we have to make unpopular decision, but that is the reality that we have to face. We don’t want to be a party that promise yang bukan-bukan (something not workable) but can’t fulfill them after the election.“The opposition knows they can never be the government so they promised macam-macam (all sort of things). They don’t really have commitment,” he argued.
Highlights of the interviewOn Kg Berembang and Kg Rimba JayaThose in Rimba Jaya and Berembang are a minority group which is not happy. They are less than 20 percent (of the total residents). We have discussed with them at the initial stage until we reached a decision that the majority are satisfied with, only then we act. These squatters are to be moved to a better place and housing rental is being paid by the developer, state government or local authority until their houses are completed. But there is a small group not happy because they applied for the land to be given to them or they argued the land was developed by them. We have explained that the land is privately-owned, not government-owned. We have many discussions with everybody. Take Rimba Jaya - we started talking about the issue five years back. Berembang was four years back.On the temple demolition in Shah AlamThey created the story of 100-, 200-year-old temple, (which is) not true. We know the oldest temple in the state. There are about 810 big temples in Selangor and thousand of small temples. I don’t know what happened to him (MIC president S Samy Vellu who was upset over the demolition). We demolished the temple after Deepavali. Impact on BN’s chances in general electionsRakyat has to see the performance of the BN government. We are not simply doing something, we are doing it for our future. Sometimes we have to make unpopular decision, but that is the reality we have to face. We don’t want to be a party that promise yang bukan-bukan but can’t fulfill them after the election. The opposition knows they can never be the government, they promised macam-macam. They don’t really have commitment.Like (PAS-led) Kelantan. Last time, they said they want to push for hudud law, what happen to that now? We don’t want to be a government that cheat the people. We want to be a government with integrity.On the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf)Hindraf is not something new, it has been moving in Selangor for three, four years. They have the agenda to turn the Malays into their enemy. We see it, it has been there for a long time. They questioned why Islam is higher than other religions when we know Islam is the official religion and it was agreed to during the Independence. They also questioned the bumiputeras’ rights.Criticisms against his leadershipI already have done my best. If people want to criticise, I can’t say anything. So far, Selangor is doing quite well. We have clear direction. We know what to do for the next five years.
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