SELANGOR State executive councillor Ronnie Liu has challenged Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong to name the exco member allegedly “allowing his office to be used as a place for people connected with underground activities”.

The chairman of the Local Government, Study and Research Committee said his conscience was clear and that he had nothing to hide.

Malay Mail contacted Liu yesterday for comments on Wee’s blog posting last Saturday entitled “Yes, Selangor State exco should be reshuffled”.

In the posting, Wee claims to have received many complaints from Pakatan Rakyat members and those in the business communities in Selangor that the office of a certain exco member had been and is continuing to be used as a meeting place for people connected with “underground business activities”.

“I’ve heard about (the allegations). I am waiting for the party concerned to name the person. If they don’t name the person, then I do not know who is the one being referred to,” Liu said.

“Members of the public or anyone for that matter who have details should forward it to Tan Sri (Abdul Khalid Ibrahim) or they can give it to the DAP, Pas or PKR leaders instead of hiding it," he said, adding that evidence was needed before any action can be taken.

Malay Mail asked Liu for his comments because of suggestions that he was the person being referred.

“Rumours and gossip are unhealthy,” Liu said. “If Wee cannot provide evidence, than he should just keep quiet!

“As a Pakatan member he should be protecting the interests of Pakatan. We cannot have enemies from within. Instead, what is being done right now is that they are talking about things from outside and this is not healthy.”

Liu also questioned Wee’s blog posting in support of Bukit Antarabangsa State assemblyman Azmin Ali who called for a reshuffle of the exco members at the State assembly meeting last week.

“On what basis did Azmin say this? Is it based on the delay of the councillors list? Wee should find out what the real reason is. Azmin had given a lot of reasons as to why he called for a reshuffle of exco members.”

Liu also said that Wee should put his past behind him and “grow up and mature”.

“Wee is a former political enemy of the DAP. He was a DAP member but he had criticised the top DAP leadership. So maybe he has a grudge. I don’t know.”

Pointing to the State government’s reforms aimed at eradicating malpractices and corruption over the past year, he noted that the government had made many enemies.

“We have an open policy, which makes it difficult for people to be corrupt and for contracts (to be awarded) without tenders,” he said.

“A lot of people have come to my office asking to be given contracts and we have told them off in their face. This is how we survive. Our conscience is clear. We do not award contracts to people we know. We do not give it to our brothers, sisters or other family members.”

Liu also said that although he was the chief for local councils, he does not interfere in the running of local councils and leaves it to the respective councils to implement policies.

He added that Selangor is the only State that prevents MPs, State assemblymen and exco members from applying for State land.

He also dismissed talk of rifts in Selangor’s Pakatan Rakyat coalition government and said the PR government had been doing a lot for the people.

“All exco members put in seven days a week, we do not even go for vacations and some have not taken leave for over a year,” he claimed.

“It is not easy putting in seven days a week for the past year and even Tan Sri himself has given up golf completely to focus on his duties. In fact, all exco members have performed and produced results in their own way.”

“Actions speak louder than words,” Liu said. “If all this is not enough (then) to still say our exco members are not clean, these are people who have blind agendas.”

He was also sceptical about allegations that people with criminal records had attended meetings at the State secretariat building.

“I don’t think people with criminal records would come to see us. We are  not the police ... we have no power to give protection."

Liu noted that all visitors sign in on a list when they enter the offices of exco members.

"When people want to visit us, our doors are open to everyone. It's open to people with and without appointments."

On Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail's comment that he wants the police to look into the allegations as reported in an English daily yesterday, Liu countered by pointing out that investigations are yet to be conducted on the many reports he has made.

"If they want to investigate, so be it. We have nothing to hide. We have clean records, we are the only exco who have made a declaration of our assets.

"A lot of allegations are being made right now and even in the past about us, but where is the evidence?" he asked.

"Not all people are willing to be transparent, except for people who have nothing to hide."

Wee stands by his blog posting

WANGSA MAJU member of Parliament Wee Choo Keong says he stands by his blog posting,"Yes, Selangor State exco should be reshuffled", published on Saturday.

In his posting at http://weechookeong.wordpress.com, Wee said he fully supported the call by Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali for certain Selangor exco members, who are not fit for office, to be replaced.

He wrote: "Personally I've had and continue to receive many complaints from the Pakatan Rakyat members and business communities in Selangor that the office of a certain exco member had been and is continuing to be used as a meeting place for people connected with the "underground business activities".

This is an open secret within the Selangor State administrative office. This is most unhealthy as it will give the impression that the exco member is in support of the "underground business activities" and the impropriety will eventually affect the image of the Pakatan government."

When contacted yesterday, Wee said that what he had written holds water.

"It may be a rumour if you receive one or two complaints, but when you receive numerous complaints, and have many people talking about the same thing including members of political parties, then it becomes an open secret."

"There would not be any smoke if there is no fire," he added.

Asked to name the exco member in question, Wee said all would be revealed in due course.

"I was merely pointing out in my post that I support Azmin's call, and no one should feel the heat at this particular point," he said.

"If at all, I have only mentioned the name of Teresa Kok (another Selangor State executive councillor) in my posting."

Wee also brushed aside allegations that his post stemmed from a political grudge, and said that such comments were a typical excuse given by someone who was "bankrupt of ideas".

"I speak to top DAP leaders such as (Lim) Kit Siang and Guan Eng openly in Parliament. If that's the case, even Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would be affected as he was previously from the BN."

Asked if his statements could cause a rift in Pakatan Rakyat, Wee said comments made by him were "a healthy process in an open society".

He also welcomed reports that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had called for police to investigate the allegations.

"It is within his powers as the AG under the law to do what he wants to do, and it is up to him."