Balking at uncovered secrets
WHEN Maria J. Dass and I interviewed Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim soon after he took over the state administration last year, he made a promise to the rakyat – that he would practise full disclosure after sieving through the rot that had crusted in the state administration over the years.
So convincing was Abdul Khalid that we even headlined the interview "Unlocking the secrets".
It has been more than a year since Pakatan Rakyat had come to power and although it has fallen short on delivering on some of its promises, ie local elections, it has also exceeded expectations in several areas such as the policy of Merakyatkan ekonomi Selangor, putting people first in enjoying the economic returns from the state's activities.
It has also outdone itself in taking to task the previous administration for vulgar excesses which have been news fodder for awhile. However, one is geared towards feeling that the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (SelCAT) inquiry into the activities of the Selangor Representatives Wives' Welfare Organisation (Balkis) was triggered by former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo's accusations of Abdul Khalid's financial impropriety regarding the purchase (then he changed it to servicing) of Abdul Khalid's Lexus and the distribution of cows to the poor in his constituency.
As the saying goes, you point one finger and four more point back at you.
Over the past month, the (SelCAT) inquiry revealed how a few in power, including Mohd Khir, had gallivanted around the world using people's money.
Many of these excesses were touched on by Citizen Nades last week, and a lot more such as the RM160,000 watch gift to Mohd Khir by a state subsidiary were exposed by this paper since March last year.
Yesterday, we read how Mohd Khir had spent RM1.7 million on overseas trips including two to Disneyland.
What makes one's stomach churn is that Mohd Khir and his minions did not even bother to disguise the trip as a lawatan sambil belajar. The least they could have done was to slot in a few meetings with the theme park management or the guy in the Mickey Mouse suit (although I think Goofy would have been more up their alley).
But no. With kids and maid in tow, it was a blatant lawatan sambil berjoli, paid by the people of Selangor. Such was their arrogance and superiority complex that they thought no one could question them.
But no, like all Disney fairytales, the wicked stepmother may have had the upper hand in the beginning but they all end with her getting her just desserts.
In real life, however, one wonders if those who had abused the public trust will be brought to book. This is because as recent experiences have shown us, the system seems to work for some but not others.
Mohd Khir and his wife Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik refused to attend the inquiry which wound up on Wednesday, choosing instead to hide behind their lawyer's letter.
But they cannot run away forever. It is the way of the world, karma if you please.
Even if they don't end up in jail for corruption, CBT or abuse of power, there are other ways that they will have to face the music.
Losing the state in the general election is one. Failing to win the Umno Youth chief's post was another. With all these hanging over his head, the loss of trust among the rakyat and popularity in his party, Mohd Khir's political future is as good as finished.
The incoming prime minister, it is understood, wants a clean slate and hopes to purge his administration and party of those with tainted hands.
Mohd Khir will go down in history as the first Umno mentri besar to lose Selangor to the opposition. If he wants a scapegoat, he needs to only look in the mirror.
Just before the general election, Mohd Khir told theSun's editors that some of the stories and commentaries carried by this paper were damaging to him, as well as his party's chances in the general election. Although he gave excuses for the shortfalls, and tried to sidetrack the argument by throwing the race card, he could not counter our arguments.
All I can say is there was no hidden agenda or political motivation in our writings. And if this paper's exposes helped rid the system of leaders who treated public funds as their own, consider it our national service.
One of Terence's favourite tunes is Sting's "History Will Teach Us Nothing", thus he feels past lessons need to be repeated so we don't make the same mistakes. He is deputy editor, (special reports & investigations). To reach him, email: terence@thesundaily.com
