Like children competing for parental approval, the sand issue in Selangor has become a race to prove who has the greater influence between former menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and Noh Omar, the deputy chairman of the Selangor Umno liaison committee.
The aim, according to PKR's Seri Muda assemblyman Suhaimi Shafiei, is to prove to Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is the better man to lead Umno's assault in the next general election.
"It’s an ongoing feud, a war of influence. The separate press conferences by the two on the sand issue proves that there is an ongoing war,” he said, adding that both parties have been trying hard to hide their differences ever since he exposed their enmity on Feb 20.
According to Suhaimi, proof of their clash was evident when Noh hired a helicopter to search for evidence on the sand issue in his efforts to blacklist Pakatan Rakyat and at the same time smear mud on Khir’s face.
He said Khir, on the other hand, is using other approaches to defuse Noh’s increasing influence in the state.
“Both are using the sand issue as a springboard to garner political influence and Najib’s attention. They each are racing to be champions on an issue which they themselves stirred-up,” he added.
'It was worse during Khir's time'
Shuhaimi said illegal sand mining was worse during Khir’s tenure, especially in Batang Berjuntai and Kuala Langat.
“Why is Noh focussing on these areas? My believe is that he wants to embarrass Khir because the latter had shown illegal mining in the Dengkil area, which is under (state assemblyman) Marsum Paing, a strong supporter of Noh.
“Batang Berjuntai is under (state assemblyman) Amiruddin Setro who is Khir’s right-hand man now,” he added.
Suhaimi also revealed that there was a third “play safe” force in Selangor, which is Kuang assemblyman Abdul Shukor Idrus and his supporters, who would only bet on the “winning horse.”
“They would follow whoever that feeds them. For the moment they are close to Noh Omar because he is a minister. Khir is only an assemblyman and his grip has weakened,” he said.
Yesterday, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim made a scathing remark about the Selangor police's silent indifference to sand thieving, despite the fact that a report complete with evidence had been forwarded to Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and copied to the Selangor police chief
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