Khir Toyo's final jottings as a free man

In the posting titled ‘'Catatan Di Belakang Tirai Besi', Dr Khir 30 points that summed up the issues and challenges he faced during his tenure as the Menteri Besar.

The Federal Court today upheld the one-year jail term for Dr Khir, for using his position as a public servant for obtaining, for himself and his wife, two plots of land and a bungalow in Shah Alam, eight years ago.

Assalamualaikum and salam sejahtera,

1. When you read this note, I am probably in jail because I scheduled this post to be published after the sentencing.

2. I apologise to all my family, friends and supporters who may have been ashamed because of this case. I apologised to my families, friends, colleagues and supporters who have been put to shame because of this. I am also grateful to those who have been encouraging of me and those who have offered their empathy.

3. I know some Netizens have labelled me as a person who takes bribe. Do they understand that the house that I purchased was semi-furnished, with bank loan and I'm still paying the monthly installments until now? I forgive them.

4. I also know that my house became controversial after an UMNO leader hired a photographer to take an aerial view of the home using a helicopter not too long ago. The pictures that emerged showed that the house was as big as a palace. The fact, is my house is not among the biggest houses in the area. Its okay. I forgive it.

5. I only wished to say that during the trial, the Public Prosecutor had not provided any facts to show the elements of corruption. Basically, corruption should occur when I received bribes for approving a tender for Shamsuddin.

6. There was never any facts and evidence showing that buying my house at RM3.5 million which the prosecutors said, was a reward with any privileges of project awarding or tender approval by me. There was only a letter of support granted to Shamsuddin's company as how I had supported dozens if not hundreds of other companies in the past.

7. If I am not corrupt, then why was I found guilty? I was charged and convicted under Article 165 of the Penal Code which is a technical fault with the maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment.

8. In this accusation, the prosecutor does not require any proof of any privileges granted to Shamsuddin. What needs to be proved is that I have bought an item at a price that is not sufficient, from a person who was known to have established a working relationship with me as a public servant.

9. Such is the keenness of the former Attorney General to imprison me. I'm not sure if my house will be confiscated. They tried me under Article 165 but used the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to seize my house.

10. Is it fair to charge me for an offense that requires light proof, but using an Act that requires a heavier proof to seize my home? Only Allah knows his true intentions.

11. When purchasing the semi-furnished house , I informed the people who were holding important roles , including the prime minister at the time, the State Secretary and the MACC itself.

12. For the record , I also bought the property with a bank loan and asked for the valuation of properties. Up to now I still have debts of more than RM2 million. Does this mean I am corrupt ?

13. If I want to take bribe, I would have just asked Shamsuddin to give it to me for free and name anyone as the proxy.

14. I accept the decision even though to this day, I do not know what is the adequate reward .

15. Perhaps the government should set up a committee that allows civil servants to make references, in order to meet an adequate reward measures so that there will be no one else who will be trapped like me

16. Last week, when appealing for a reduced sentence by stating the contributions made to achieve Selangor Maju 2005 as targeted by the government since the 1990s.

17. The Sun disputed the fact. I do not intend to argue to which extent was Selangor deemed feasible to be declared a developed state. This is because the government which is supported by The Sun, until today also maintains the status of Selangor as a developed state.

18. So in the end, when there is no power and post, The Sun chooses to criticise me. I am not sure what is the cause of their anger.

19. Is it because I am looked upon as anti Indian community as several temples built illegally were demolished? Or is it because I do not approve Horse Racing center in Bukit Tagar, Selangor?

20. I do not think it's just a matter of "good governance", as anyone who reads The Sun's from last time to now, can differentiate the level and type of criticism of the newspaper or the newspaper's editor, to the individual who succeeded me as Menteri Besar. In fact, they are defending the Menteri Besar even though the mistakes made were very obvious.

21. I would also like to apologise to Hindu worshippers who are upset due to the demolition of Rimba Jaya hindu temple. The case was referred to court since 1998. It was illegally built on private piece of land. A discussion was held between the state government and the temple’s administrator who agreed to give a RM40,000 reparation for a new plot of land to them.

22. The decision to demolish the Rimba Jaya temple was decided by the court and it was neither mine nor the State government’s decision. The court decided that the temple and squatters settlements to be abolished. The court even rejected the appeal by 11 residents who refused to move from the area.

23. As the Menteri Besar at that time, the state government and the Shah Alam Municipal Council were just carrying out the decision by the court. I took that as a responsibility given to me.

24. If I still held grudges, I hope they would remember me as the first Menteri Besar to give allocations to all Hindu temples and registered synagogues. Under my administration, the State Government also established the 'Tabung Pendidikan Anak-Anak Pekerja Ladang'.

25. Certain quarters despised me not for this offence. Fueled by their anger, I had earned the ‘Anugerah Penyapu’ (Broom Award) label to civil servants from the Officers of Local Authorities (PBT) and Hulu Selangor Division Council.

26. Although it was not my brainchild, and agreed upon in a meeting with all PBT members at that time, I accepted that as my responsibility. I wish to apologise, for offending some people.

27. Recently, I met and had a private discussion with En Tukiman Nail, former President of the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council, who with his wife had received the ‘award. I assumed the matter was resolved on name of brotherhood.

28. Some quarters are still hurt with my approach in resolving the squatters’ issue. I can’t please every single one of them. What I can say here, I have done the best within my capacity, along with the State government to resolve the squatters’ problem; (i) providing a conducive settlement (ii). to resolve the land and squatters issues (iii) allocate RM7,000 subsidy to each squatter to purchase a new apartment.

29. Finally, I would like to apologise for my wrongdoings and mistakes to all Selangor residents.