However, Selangor MB hopes blogger will come forward to provide info on alleged bribery practices
(The Malay Mail) - The Selangor government says there is no need to meet up with fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) to ascertain the latter's claims of bribery practices within the state government.
"I don't have to meet him. We have Internet connection," quipped Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.
However, Khalid said he still hoped that the Malaysia Today founder would come forward to provide information on the alleged bribery practices in the Pakatan Rakyat-held state.
This, he said, was because of the state's RM15 million fund to combat bribery in its administration.
"Raja Petra should take this opportunity as that's what the money is for. It's for anyone who has information on such matters," he told reporters after the exco meeting at the Selangor State Secretariat building here yesterday.
The fund, he said, was geared towards digging out proof and arresting individuals involved in bribery cases in the state.
"It is meant to decrease the number of bribery cases here, as well as ascertain the authenticity of claims, defamatory or otherwise, by individuals who claim that our state officers are involved in bribery but do not provide proof," he said.
In his recent interview with mainstream media, Raja Petra had claimed that corruption was still the same in Selangor and that people still had to pay "under table" money to get things done.
He had criticised Pakatan de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's appointment as Selangor state economic adviser, claiming that he had failed to bring about changes.
Feedback from businessmen in Selangor, he claimed, revealed that there was no reduction in corruption since PKR, DAP and Pas came into power in 2008.
On Jan 2, Khalid's political secretary Faekah Husin said the state government was willing to pay Raja Petra's travel cost so that the latter could physically provide proof of corruption within the administration.
She stated that is was "the least he can do" to assist the state government, given that he himself is a part of the Selangor royal family.
