SHAH ALAM, March 26 — Former Selangor Mentri Besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said today that he values “friendship” more than enmity as he expressed gratitude for the chance to settle two defamation suits filed against him by his successor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

The two suits were dropped earlier this afternoon after Dr Khir read out his “sincere” apology to Khalid for issuing defamatory remarks against him in 2009.

“For me, what’s important is friendship. I value friendship more than enmity.

“I think the action of apologising and forgiving is good, and I as the younger one should do it,” the Umno man told reporters here after the cases were settled at the Shah Alam High Court. Dr Khir, 49, is almost two decades younger than the 68-year-old Khalid.

Dr Khir said his past remarks was not meant as a “personal attack”, and that he now believes there are no ill feeling between him and Khalid as both parties are “mature”.

“My statement was as Opposition Leader, my duty, no personal attack at all,” said the dentist who had served as Selangor Mentri Besar from 2000 to 2008 before becoming state opposition leader when Pakatan Rakyat (PR) took over the state.

Met after his two lawsuits against Dr Khir was settled, Khalid thanked the former for apologising, saying that it was the “best way” to resolve issues of integrity and reputation.

“We are Muslims. We settle our differences, we get God’s grace to do it. But the most important thing is we plan to go to meet the people in Ijok, Pelabuhan Klang and also Bandar Tun Razak to explain our position,” said Khalid, also adding that it was important for politicians to display high standards to garner the public’s trust.

At the time of the alleged defamatory remarks, Khalid was the Selangor Mentri Besar as a PKR and PR lawmaker in the Ijok constituency. Khalid left the post last year before finishing his second term.

After his sacking from PKR, Khalid is now an independent state lawmaker for Pelabuhan Klang and federal lawmaker for Bandar Tun Razak.

Today, Dr Khir confirmed the plans to meet the public, saying: “We want to show the public we are going to do something very good, to set an example for other politicians in the future.”

In a statement today, Khalid announced his acceptance the apology that he believed was made sincerely by Dr Khir, saying he believes it was sufficient to redeem his “integrity and honour as a leader and a Muslim”.

“I hope this case can serve as a lesson to society, especially to politicians to always be careful not to make any accusations without basis and without accurate facts,” he said.

Khalid added that Malaysia has to change from a political culture of defamation that he said would disparage the democratic system and mock the public’s wisdom in discerning between right and wrong.

On February 18, 2009, Khalid filed two defamation suits against Dr Khir over ex-MB’s remarks on his purchase of a Lexus car and 46 cows for sacrifice during a Muslim celebration.

In his statement of claim, Khalid claimed that Dr Khir had made the two allegedly defamatory statements that were carried in two local newspapers in January 2009.

The article titled “Lexus is my own, says Khalid” was printed in the New Straits Times on January 15, 2009, while another article with the headline “Lepaskan Jawatan MB (Give Up the MB’s Post)” was printed in Utusan Malaysia on January 23, 2009.

Among other things, Khalid had claimed the articles had implied that he was dishonest and unethical, and had intentionally abused his position and public office for personal gain.