Khalid to Khir Toyo: Retract or get sued - Star

Feb 4, 2009 By LOH FOON FONG

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has given Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo an ultimatum to retract his recent statement against him within seven days or risk being sued.

Lawyer Sankara Nair, who is representing Khalid, said two letters of demand were posted to the former Selangor MB on Wednesday, demanding an apology, retraction and damages.

The letters referred to a report in the New Straits Times on Jan 15 and another in Utusan Malaysia on Jan 23 with the headings “Lexus is my own, says Khalid” and “Lepaskan jawatan MB” (Lay down your post, MB) respectively, he said.

“They are bereft of truth and a distortion calculated to disparage our client’s reputation and to undermine his integrity, both in his personal and public capacity,” Sankara said.

Mohd Khir had implied that Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd (KDEB) funds were used to purchase a Toyota Lexus four-wheel drive for Khalid.

Sankara claimed that Khalid had bought the car during the Ijok by-election and has the documents to prove that it is his personal car.

Mohd Khir had also claimed that the state government had financed the purchase of cows worth RM110,400 that were distributed in Khalid’s parliamentary seat, Bandar Tun Razak, which is not in Selangor.

Khalid had recently explained that the arrangements to purchase and donate the cows to Bandar Tun Razak were made solely by PKNS and the donor companies without his or his officers’ involvement.

Despite the explanation, Khir had not apologised or retracted his statements, said Sankara.

“If an apology and retraction comes, my client will forget the matter; otherwise, we will go by way of a summons,” he said.