Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 3^rd December 2011: 

Khalid Abu Bakar should be issued with a gag order and stop trying to clear the "cows and condos" issue of any wrongdoing or else he might as well resign and join politics  

DAP calls on Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to issue a gag order to Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar and stop trying to clear up the "cows and condos' issue of any wrongdoing or else Khalid might as well resign and join politics. Hishamuddin said that Putrajaya has not closed the RM250 million National Feedlot Centre scandal(in Gemas, Negri Sembilan) linked to Cabinet minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family although police investigations have not yet revealed any element of criminal breach of trust (CBT).

Then why did Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Khalid Abu Bakar have to say that there are is element of CBT or wrongdoing in the case. How can something be not wrong when public funds meant to rear cows is used instead to buy two luxury condos? Despite that, when the Deputy IGP can say that there is nothing wrong even though funds from a RM250 million soft loan can be released early two years before any legal document was signed with the borrower simply stinks to high heaven.

There is nothing wrong with Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's battle-cry in rolling up her sleeves to fight to defend her family. But has she considered whether defending the interests of her family is more important than public interests. Public interests demand why the Federal government can allow and fail to act on the purchase of two luxury condominiums in Bangsar for RM13.8 million when no prior approval was obtained form the Federal government.

Even if it is true that that the scandal has nothing to do with Sharizat, as a Federal Minister she should press for action on why public money is used for a different purpose than that intended for. When money is used to purchase luxury condos instead of for cows and no prior approval obtained, that is criminal breach of trust. By failing to support the Auditor-General's expose of this scandal Sharizat and UMNO delegates have show complete contempt for the principles of rule of law, integrity, accountability and transparency.

Such blind support for UMNO leaders even when they do wrong or implement wrong policies is unsurprising as UMNO is identified so closely with corruption, cronyism and abuse of power. However when the Deputy IGP is willing to clear up the cows and condos scandal even before investigations is complete, is not just unprofessional and unacceptable but a blow to the integrity of the police force.

This is not the first time that the Deputy IGP has waded into political waters. When he was the Selangor CPO, Datuk Seri Khalid had attacked me by lying that I had refused to record my statement with the police. Khalid later admitted his mistake but failed to apologise to me.

Despite such lies, Datuk Seri Khalid was appointed as Deputy IGP. Now he has cleared up the cows and condos scandal by saying that there is no evidence of CBT even though Hishamuddin has said that investigations are still not closed. If this is the new standards for the professionalism for the police force, then Malaysians can expect Datuk Seri Khalid to be promoted as the next IGP.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan