MCA central committee member Chua Tee Yong has “officially” challenged Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to a debate on the debt recovery exercise involving Talam Corporation Sdn Bhd.
“I don’t want to debate with DAP members who only have third-hand information. I want to debate with the MB of Selangor,” he told a press conference today.
Chua said he hopes for a response from Khalid after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The Labis MP said an impartial person would be sought to moderate the debate.
However, responding to the challenge in Shah Alam this afternoon, Khalid declined the offer and said that he would rather have Chua become his student, once the state-commissioned audit report on the Talam debt restructuring was ready.
“It would be good for him. I’ll be very happy to see such an inquisitive student. It will enhance his knowlege about debt restructuring, etc. Only this time, it will come with a lot of research,” Khalid quipped.
On July 13, DAP publicity chief Tony Pua had challenged Chua to a debate on the deal, claiming that the Chua grossly misunderstood the matter.
However, Chua declined the duel, urging DAP to instead help the Pakatan-led state government to complete its White Paper on the matter.
‘Mother of all lies’
At the press conference, Chua also furnished a document that he claimed proved the previous state administration had indeed initiated efforts to recover the debt from Talam.
He said a document by the Menteri Besar Incorporated dated July 14, 2009, acknowledged that a Talam Task Force Committee was formed to negotiate and implement a global settlement.
The committee was headed by then Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS) deputy corporate affairs and accounting manager Low Siew Moi.
“All settlement agreements signed earlier between state government agencies with Talam shall be terminated and cease to have any effect and new terms shall be negotiated to recover all amount outstanding from Talam,” said Chua, reading from the document.
In view of this, Chua said, the state government had committed the “mother of all lies” by accusing the previous administration of failing to take any action.
Previously, Chua had alleged that the state government engaged in a RM1 billion bailout of Talam, but this was proven erroneous.
However, Chua has not relented and repeatedly accused the state government of “buying up” Talam’s debt and land at an inflated price. Both allegations have been have denied by the state government.
Additional reporting by Aidila Razak.
Short URL: http://www.freemalaysiakini2.com/?p=42645
on Aug 15 2012. Filed under News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
