SHAH ALAM - Former Selangor Menteri Besar Khir Toyo has described his first night in prison seven years ago for a corruption charge as the hardest.
He said he wants to share his six months of prison life experience as a lesson to others, especially politicians.
"The first night was the hardest night in Kajang Prison. I thought of my children and wife.
"But we need to mutually respect prison guards and other fellow prisoners. If we can do that, life there will be easier and calmer,” he said in an exclusive interview with Sinar Premium.
When asked if he has any malice towards those who caused him to spend his time in jail following the accusation of buying a house below the market price from a friend, he said there are no such feelings since he has come to terms.
"The six-month prison sentence allowed me to look inward, and even gave me the opportunity to read the most amount of books.
"For me, forgiving someone is healing. Revenge will only damage our soul,” he said.
In 2015, the Federal Court upheld the 12-month prison sentence against Khir who was found guilty. He was accused of obtaining for him and his wife two lots of land and a house at No 8 and 10, Jalan Suasa, Jalan Suasa 7/1L here from Ditamas Sdn Bhd through its director, Datuk Shamsuddin Hayroni.
The property was bought by Khir for RM3.5 million while Ditamas paid RM6.5 million for the property on 23 December 2004.
Dr Khir, who is also a former Sungai Panjang State Assemblyman was charged with committing the offence at the Selangor Menteri Besar's official residence at Jalan Permata 7/1, Section 7 Shah Alam on May 29, 2007.
The charge was under Section 165 of the Penal Code which provides a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment or a fine or both upon conviction.
However, Khir, who was the Selangor Menteri Besar from August 2000 to February 2008 was later released on parole for behaving well after serving a six-month sentence in Kajang Prison.
Recently it was reported that he is planning to make a political comeback at the next general election. Under the Federal Constitution, anyone sentenced to a jail term of at least 12 months or fined at least RM2,000 on a criminal offence will be disqualified from contesting in a parliamentary election for five years from the date he is released.