Former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo today lambasted the Special Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) for trying to tarnish his reputation instead of finding out the truth.

Reiterating that he had done nothing to violate the law, Mohd Khir questioned Selcat's motives as it was initially set up to look at the state agencies' contributions to Balkis but now is randomly looking into state investment arm Perbadanan Nasional Selangor Bhd (PNSB) with the aim of damaging his image.

Initially, Mohd Khir said he was not interested in answering what he described as "half truth" allegations. However, due to the numerous questions posed on his blog, he felt compelled to respond.

khir toyo interview 121207 serious Among others, the former MB denied that he had instructed PNSB to pay for his children and maid's expenses during his working trips.

"It is normal for PNSB to pay for my wife and my travel expenses. If memory serves me right, there is not one trip including to Morocco and France where my children or maid's expenses were financed by PNSB or the state government.

"If there is any mistake, I am prepared to pay back," he said.

In fact, Mohd Khir said, he directly paid the money to the travel agency concerned, and they verified that they would not claim from the state agency.

Citing the trip to Indonesia, he said the trip for the 63-member delegation headed by him cost close to RM200,000 as they went to Yogjakarta, Solo and Jakarta but this was not fully disclosed.

He said PNSB's board of directors are each given an overseas trip in place of one month’s allowances. The visit involves the technical and investment team, district officers and the council president in a bid to find new ideas to develop Selangor.

Mohd Khir denied the trip was for leisure but was directed to gather new knowledge on river, water management and development of a town council for the Second Klang Valley.

"Each visit is followed with a full report to the Selangor exco to evaluate its impact," he said, adding that he would not be answering all the allegations as it involves a lot of facts which he does not have access to.

On April 1, it was reported that Mohd Khir along with his family and other state officials spent almost RM1.6 million on two overseas trips

The expenditure list included a 2004 visit to the Paris Disneyland and a four-day transit stopover at Dubai.

This was revealed by an inquiry being conducted by the Selcat.

Mohd Khir: Report to MACC

Meanwhile, Mohd Khir also said that the report in Malaysiakini and another in the New Straits Times titled 'RM1.7 million spent by Dr Khir Toyo's entourage on Disneyland’ were aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

He claimed that the objective of the visit was to look at the prospect of building a theme park in Bagan Lalang, Sepang, and the delegation was big and it was not a "family trip" as alleged.

"The visit has economic significance as the district officers gained knowledge on getting new ideas to develop their district. The implication that I spent the money for my family's holiday is grossly exaggerated," he said.

He also denied that PNSB was told to finance his wife's trip to Australia.

Mohd Khir claimed that it was not appropriate for Selcat to "push" statements into the mouth of PNSB officers just to confuse the public.

"If it was true PNSB paid for my wife's Australia trip, show me the truth and make a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission," he said.

Mohd Khir claimed that Selcat's action was to legalise present MB Khalid Ibrahim's (alleged) wrongdoing of using Selangor funds for his own political interests.

"Will Selcat also have a session to discuss Khalid's cow and Lexus issue. What about allegations on Ronnie Liu being involved in preventing the police and Subang Jaya Municipal Council from closing a vice den.

"I am sure Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Kim is brave to have such special session. However, would he gain permission from the other Pakatan leaders? Do not try and find fault with others when the problem in front of you remains hidden," he said.