Former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said that his corruption trial involving his lavish mansion was an opportunity for him to clear his name.

NONE “The property was bought on the basis of a willing buyer and willing seller. The first owner bought the property for RM6.4 million, but he agreed to sell it to me for RM3.5 million.

“All of it was done in an above board way, according to procedure and approved by the bank,” he told reporters after posting bail at the Shah Alam court complex today.

“The case also presents a chance for me to clear my name. This showed the value of the house is not RM24 million as alleged by my critics.”

NONE Mohd Khir was charged along with Ditamas Sdn Bhd director Shamsuddin Haryoni under Section 165 of the Penal Code for graft.

Mohd Khir was alleged to have received an inducement in the form of two plots of land that was sold to him at a heavily discounted price by Ditamas. Khir’s sprawling ‘Balinese-style’ mansion now sits on the land.

The matter was uncovered by Sekinchan state assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim, who alleged that the mansion cost RM24 million and was beyond Mohd Khir’s means.

Took a while to post bail

Mohd Khir said that he had faith in the legal system and promised to continue with his defamation suit against Ng regardless of the outcome of the trial.

NONE “I hope that my case will see a speedy trial as I would like to clear my name politically and in the eyes of the opposition... Whatever the outcome, it would not stop me from taking action against Ng,” he said.

Asked on the possibility that his trial was an indication that a general election was looming, Khir played it coy.

“As a politician, I might think that way. However, let the judiciary clear my name first,” he said.

Khir also revealed that it took about three hours to raise the RM750,000 bail money from “family and others”.

Khalid: Innocent until proven guilty

Meanwhile, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, who succeeded Khir, hopes that this will not be a show-trial

NONE “If it is not genuine (the charge) I think the people will remember it for a long time,” he said.

He expressed hope that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had performed a thorough investigation, adding that there was no point charging someone without basis.

On Mohd Khir’s position as the Selangor opposition leader, Khalid said that it was not in question as everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

Over on Twitter , many Pakatan leaders have claimed that Mohd Khir’s trial was an attempt by the Najib administration to show it is tough on graft ahead of a snap poll.

“Excuse us if we don't get excited about news of Khir Toyo being charged. Standard pre-election ploy,” wrote Selangor exco member Elizabeth Wong.