SHAH ALAM: Former Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo has advised Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng to stop comparing their cases together.
In a statement today, Dr Khir said he felt he needed to correct Lim after the latter had made comparisons through statements such as "Unlike Khir Toyo's case, Ms Phang did not lose RM5 million but had made a RM300,000 profit from the original price of RM2.5 million" and "Unlike Khir Toyo's case, Ms Phang is not a housing developer who has to depend on the state government to continue (her) business."
Dr Khir said that, unlike Lim, who had bought a completed and ready to move in house, Lim had also left out the fact that he had bought the house which was half-completed without the Certificate of Fitness at the price of RM3.5 million which was set according to property valuers.
Khir added that the original price of RM6.5 million was for a completed house which was fully furnished and that both are two different entities.
"I would like to remind Lim that the decision by the court against me did not take into account the fact that seller of my house did not receive anything special from the Selangor state government under my leadership. Even the application by Shamsudin's company which I had supported was rejected by Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS).
"I was guilty because under Section 165 of the Penal Code, as it was not for taking bribes but for abusing my position as a civil servant to obtain something valuable with insufficient compensation (cheaper than the actual value) from someone who has official dealings with me.
"In my case, the court found me guilty because the prosecution witness, Shamsuddin Haryoni, told the court he did not agree with the RM3.5 million but was forced to sell because he was worried that his business in Selangor would be affected.
"Therefore, I advise Lim to stop comparing his case with mine. My case was not the same as his and he (Lim) is also charged under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which is a more serious offence.
"When I was imprisoned, DAP took it as a huge victory for them. So, although I symphathise with Lim, I feel the most accurate statement for DAP is what that had been said by Parti Cinta Malaysia vice-president Datuk Huan Cheng Guan, which is" padan muka" (serves you right). For me, this charge is poetic justice," said Khir.