Khalid rubbishes Umno-spun rumours over his post

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has denied rumours that he had an audience with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah recently to discuss his status as the menteri besar.
Rubbishing the rumours as yet another Umno-generated gossip, he said he had met the sultan in regard to official state matters.

“I don’t know (what these rumours are about). I met with the sultan during the Selangor Masters gold tournament prize-giving ceremony (on Saturday).

“My position was not discussed. In fact, I will be meeting the Sultan again on other matters,” he said.

Pro-Umno websites and blogs have of late been circulating rumours that the sultan had advised Khalid to step down.

Responding to the rumour mill, Khalid said there was no need for Umno to speculate on his position as the menteri besar because he was elected by the people and appointed to the seat on their mandate.

“I think Umno should not waste its time on this issue. If it wants (its man) to become MB, then wait for the next election.

“Umno will lose if continues speaking this way,” he said.

Trust fund for Kampung Baru

Meanwhile on the Kampung Baru issue, Khalid said the state was proposing to set up a trust fund to monitor the management of the real estate in Kampung Baru.

The trust fund will monitor Kampung Baru Development Corporation which is set up by the federal government.

Khalid said the state would propose that Kampung Baru be retained as a Bumiputera holding and an icon of Malay pride.

“I have already said that all property owners in Kampung Baru must unite and agree to a joint development. I have also shown them how to ensure that they retain ownership of the land.

“Based on this, we are proposing to set up a trust fund where the unit share is divided into two forms – one land ownership unit and one share unit.

“Land development will take into account the profit from rents and it can be managed by all parties, but the land itself will be the focus of the local committee,” Khalid told owners and inheritors of properties in Kampung Baru yesterday.

He said a trust fund would also resolve disputes over land ownership among affected residents.

“It will also resolve issues like inheritance because Kampung Baru has now spawned four generations. Ownership, if converted to shares and units, can be divided but it does not affect physical development. As such, you can look forward to overall development,” he said.

Last May, the Cabinet approved the setting up of the Kampung Baru Development Corporation, which was established under the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry.

Its function is to plan and oversee development within the area, which is expected to begin next year after the legalities are debated in Parliament later this year.