Khir throws DAP-gangster sand link
Regina Lee | Jul 29, 10 5:51pm

Selangor opposition leader Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo has claimed that gangsters protecting the bigwigs in the illegal sand mining business in Selangor are involved with DAP.
"The illegal sand miners are protected by gangsters. And these gangsters are close to DAP Selangor," claimed the former menteri besar in a startling allegation.

"The gangsters fund the DAP party machinery," he further blasted, quoting former PKR man Wee Choo Keong.

"Wee has already said that gangsters have their meetings in the Selangor state secretariat," said Khir when contacted by Malaysiakini.

However, he stopped short at alleging the link between PKR and the so-called gangsters.

"No, they're closer to DAP," he said.

The dentist-turned-politician also did not spare any salvoes at his successor Khalid Ibrahim, calling him the 'king of sand'.

Retaliating at Khalid's equally acerbic statements yesterday which saw him calling Khir a 'retired illegal sand miner' and a 'thief', Khir called him an 'emotional old man'.

"Don't get so emotional and carried away. Besides, why is he so protective of Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd?" he said, referring to the state-owned sand and minerals mining company formed by Khalid.

"KSSB is destroying everything and yet he is so adamant about protecting them. I don't know why," said Khir.

State obtained less revenue

Khir also defended the low revenue and royalty from sand mining during his eight-year tenure as head of Selangor, saying that it was because he closed down sand mines during his time.

He claimed that it only seemed that the BN government obtained less profit than the current Pakatan Rakyat administration because there was less mining activity during BN's time.

"When I was MB, I closed down so many mines. We only operated on private land and not state land. Khalid is the one opening up mines everywhere.

"So when there is less mining, of course the ringgit and sen are less. Khalid clearly does not know his mathematics," fumed Khir.

The Khalid administration recently released figures showing that the BN state government only managed to reap RM4.29 million in sand-mining royalties in 2007, compared to the RM13.76 which the Pakatan government had pocketed in royalties and profits in 2009, only after two years when the coalition became the ruling party.

Khir then rubbished statements by state exco Elizabeth Wong who said that the necessary permits and Environmental Management Plans (EMP) had been out in place to mine the eight hectare area Kambing Susu, a rural area in Hulu Selangor.

"Nonsense. Where is (the permit)? The contractors told me that they didn't see the EMP," Khir alleged.

In an 'excursion' to Kambing Susu with several reporters on Tuesday, Khir had earlier claimed that the excessive mining in the area had adversely affected Sungai Selangor, which supplies raw water to the state.

'I will expose more'

Vowing not to stop at his crusade against the Selangor Pakatan administration, Khir claimed that he has more 'evidence' of the state government's wrongdoing in Selangor, the richest state in the country.

"The public and the contractors themselves come to me with their complaints all the time. I will find all the documents and I promise to expose Khalid.

"In fact, I will be making more revelations next week," said Khir.