SHAH ALAM, Nov 13 – Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has given the Umno lawmaker from Sri Serdang until Monday to retract his remarks and apologise for misleading the state assembly, failing which he will have to face the House Privileges Committee.
Datuk Mohamad Satim Diman, during debate on Tuesday, said the mentri besar was unfit to collect debts amounting to RM392 million owed by developer Talam Corporation because he himself had yet to settle the RM66 million he owes Bank Islam in a civil dispute.
While winding up the debates on the budget this afternoon, Khalid said the Umno lawmaker had not only misled the House but had insulted him (Khalid) when he omitted to mention that Khalid had obtained court permission to counter-sue Bank Islam.
“My counter-suit against Bank Islam involves much more than RM66 million, why should I pay the bank when the case is still pending in court?” said Khalid.
Satim, who was formerly a deputy Speaker of the House, was not in the state assembly today and Khalid urged his colleagues from Barisan Nasional (BN) to inform him to issue the apology.
“If he fails, I will table a motion to refer him to the Privileges Committee.”
Khalid said Satim could apologise in the House on Monday but added that he preferred it in writing.
However, MCA lawmaker Wong Koon Mun pointed out that Satim had obtained the information about the suit from The Edge newspaper and said Khalid should also sue the newspaper.
Khalid said he was glad to know that the Kuala Kubu Baharu lawmaker followed the news but pointed out that Satim should have mentioned the report that he was also counter-suing Bank Islam.
If he is referred to the Privileges Committee and found guilty, Satim faces suspension without allowances.
Currently, former mentri besar Dr Khir Toyo is facing a year’s suspension while another four Umno lawmakers have been suspended for six months for contempt.
The lawmakers had criticised the Select Committee for Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) in the press before being referred to the Privilege Committee, which suspended them.
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