NewsWEE: Will cooperate with police

Now, the Selangor exco-with-underworld-links saga has culminated into an official probe. The police yesterday started investigations into a claim, by Wangsa Maju MP Wee Choo Keong, that a member of the State executive council had allowed his office to be used as a place for people connected with underground activities.

The cops are not the only ones interested as Wee's claim has also prompted the Selangor government to call for information to be furnished to allow it to conduct its own investigations into the matter (see accompanying report below).

Wee, when contacted, stood by his claim, maintaining that he would divulge details "once the police come knocking on my door".

"I will cooperate fully with the police and will pass any information that I have to them," he said.

However, he declined to elaborate when pushed for details of the alleged malpractices by the exco member.

Malay Mail had reported yesterday that Wee was standing by his blog posting, "Yes, Selangor State exco should be reshuffled", published on Saturday, in support of Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman Azmin Ali's call for certain Selangor exco members who are not fit for office to be replaced.

Wee had claimed to have received many complaints from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) 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".

Claiming that "this is an open secret within the Selangor State administrative office", Wee had said that this was unhealthy as "it will give the impression that the State exco member is in support of the underground business activities, and the impropriety will eventually affect the image of the PR government".

Wee's claim, and Azmin's call for a reshuffle, had riled up Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu, who challenged Wee to name the exco allegedly linked to the underworld.

Liu, who is the chairman of the Local Government, Study and Research Committee, had claimed to have also heard about the allegations and was waiting for the party concerned (Wee) to name the exco involved.

"If Wee cannot provide evidence, then he should just keep quiet!" he had said, suggesting that Wee, being "a former political enemy of the DAP", may hold a grudge against the party.

Liu had also questioned Wee's support for Azmin's call for an exco reshuffle. The Wee-Azmin "coalition" also came under fire from senior exco member Teresa Kok, who demanded that Wee name the exco member in question.

Kok, who is the Kinrara State assemblyman, had described Wee as "one ex-DAP shit stirrer".

She had also expressed her surprise that Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail had directed the police to carry out an immediate investigation into the matter.

In response, Wee wrote in his blog at http://weechookeong.wordpress.com yesterday that he didn't understand why Liu was so agitated "because I did not identify him or his party".

"Furthermore, YB (Liu) is not the only exco member and there are other exco members belonging to PKR and Pas, and none of them got agitated over my said statement of two days ago. I cannot help but state that SIAPA MAKAN CILI DIA TERASA PEDAS!".

Selangor govt awaits proof

NIK Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the political secretary to the Selangor Menteri Besar, yesterday said that the State government welcomed proof on the allegation.

"No one has given us anything so far, but when they do, the State government would proceed with our own investigations. Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is taking this seriously," he said.

Selangor police chief DCP Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said last night that a report had been lodged by a police officer to facilitate investigations into Wee's claim.

"We will be conducting enquiries, and would interview some parties to ascertain if there are criminal elements involved. We will take it from there and welcome  YB Wee's assistance."

Khalid said it was not an offence to have acquaintances with underworld members.

"Investigations will focus on whether there are elements of these underworld members being abetted in their businesses."