KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim did not attend the highly-anticipated debate on the Talamgate controversy because he was afraid to face the truth, said MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.
“The debate did not happen because there are people who dare not face the truth. Berani kerana benar, berani kerana nak tegakkan keadilan (Being bold in the defence of truth and justice).
“This is more so in Selangor where its (the state government's) policy is Competency, Accountability and Transparency. So, why must you hide?” he said after launching the 1MCA Micro-Credit Scheme for Youth here yesterday.
He was commenting on Khalid's absence from the debate with MCA Young Professionals Bureau chief Datuk Chua Tee Yong on Talam Corporation Bhd's debt recovery exercise on Wednesday.
Instead, Khalid had appointed Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, his political secretary Faekah Hussin, Kuala Selangor MP Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and Selayang MP William Leong as his spokesmen on the issue.
The four had walked out in protest during the event, saying Tee Yong had not wanted to debate with them.
Dr Chua said Khalid not a representative was the most appropriate person to clear the air by virtue of his post as the head of state government.
“The representatives are not members of the state's administration and as such, do not have full information. Documents and issues discussed in the state executive council meetings are only privy to the mentri besar and the exco members.
“Whatever information the representatives have are second, third and fourth-hand information conveyed to them,” he said.
In July, Tee Yong had questioned how an exercise to recover RM392mil debt owed by Talam to state-linked companies ended up in questionable deals worth over RM1bil.
The RM1bil deals include Talam assets acquired by the Selangor government at RM676mil to offset the debt and a RM392mil grant obtained by the Mentri Besar Incorporated to facilitate the debt recovery exercise.
Dr Chua said that in the past, MCA leaders would be labelled as “cowards” by the Opposition should they fail to take up the latter's challenges.
“So when we challenged Khalid for a debate and he didn't turn up what must we say? He cannot be a hero for not turning up,” he added.
Meanwhile, Cheras OCPD Asst Comm Mohan Singh said four suspects arrested during a commotion at the forum had been remanded for investigation.
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