SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA: The Selangor government has denied claims that it used public funds to organise the recently concluded PKR congress at the Malawati Stadium.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the state government only funded the Karnival Mesra Rakyat organised by the Shah Alam City Council at the stadium car park.

He said the carnival from Nov 28 to 30 was held at the same time as the congress and was aimed at allowing ratepayers to meet local authority and state government agency representatives.

"The local authorities decided to offer food to visitors as a way to woo more people to the carnival and this was not connected to the PKR Congress," he said in a press statement yesterday.