Drop defamation suit against me, Ng tells Khir

By Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Sekinchan DAP assemblyman Ng Suee Lim urged former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo to drop a defamation suit against him over his exposé on the alleged land fraud that finally saw the state opposition leader being charged by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today.

Ng said that the long-overdue legal action taken by the MACC clearly indicated that his allegation over Khir's extravagance in the construction of his Balinese-themed mansion in Section 7, Shah Alam, and the price paid for the land was not baseless after all.

"His defamation suit against me should be dropped, because his arrest and the charge made against him today have proven that my allegation was not baseless. Although he has every right to proceed with it, I still think he has lost the political authority to take a legal action against me," Ng told FMT.

Ng was slapped with a defamation suit by Khir's legal team last year when the former claimed that Khir had constructed the mansion at a cost of RM20 million and had purchased the land for RM3.8 million during his tenure as menteri besar.

He raised questions as to how Khir could afford it on his menteri besar's salary.

Khir, who vehemently denied all the claims, said that he took a RM3.5 million loan from an international bank to purchase the property and dismissed allegation that the property cost RM24 million.

He also claimed that he could afford the mansion based on his professional business as a dentist.

When asked whether his effort to make Khir face justice was fruitful, Ng said he was still not satisfied with MACC's snail pace approach to prosecute the former menteri besar.

"It took them one year and five months to finally charge him in court. However, I feel relieved and welcome the move despite its slow process," Ng said, adding that MACC should have acted swiftly after he dropped the bombshell in July, last year.

Uncertain political future

Khir was arrested this morning at his office in Shah Alam at 9am and was brought to Shah Alam Sessions Court.

He was charged with committing a land fraud for the purposes of building the mansion, while developer Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Haryoni was charged with abetting Khir.

Both pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Azhaniz Teh Azman Teh, who set bail at RM750,000 and allowed the prosecution to transfer the case to the High Court.

Khir was charged with obtaining, for himself and his wife Zahrah Kechik, the two plots of land and a house at No 8 & 10, Jalan Suasa 7/1 L, Shah Alam, from Ditamas through Shamsuddin at the price of RM3.5 million when in fact the lots were brought by Ditamas on Dec 23, 2004 at RM6.5 million.

The charge against the Sungai Panjang assemblyman and Selangor opposition leader came under Section 165 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum two years' jail and fine, or both.

But if convicted, Khir faces an uncertain political future as he could be disqualified from contesting in the next general election, which political observers said could be held soon, pending an appeal.

Asked whether this was also a sign of the upcoming snap polls, Ng said this has nothing to do with it.