Senior reps to quiz PKNS

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has appointed three of its senior exco members to quiz Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) officials over the management of the conglomerate’s funds, says Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

Exco members Datuk Teng Chang Khim, Iskandar Abdul Samad and Rodziah Ismail would listen to briefings and explanations by the PKNS senior staff.

“It is to give the PKNS management a chance to explain,” Khalid told reporters after chairing the weekly exco meeting here yesterday.

He said that PKNS general manager Azlan Alfiah had briefed the exco members on the management of the conglomerate’s fund during the last six years.

“There were issues involving the usage and expenditure methods of funds that requires rectification,” he added.

Khalid said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating allegations of misuse of the PKNS Football Club funds.

He said the three exco members would look into the football club’s RM9mil annual expenses fund as well as the conglomerate’s yearly RM5mil fund for entrepreneurship development and annual RM30mil corporate social responsibility allocation.

Khalid also said the RM7mil that PKNS would be able to save with the recent termination of 19 PKNS Holdings Sdn Bhd contractual staff also included other expenses such as utilities and rental in addition to salaries.

He was responding to the claim by the contractual employees that their combined salaries amounted to RM2mil as opposed to RM7mil announced earlier by Khalid.

Khalid also said the removal of Azmin Ali from the PKNS board and the termination of the 19 PKNS staff was a positive move for the corporation.

“The image of PKNS is much better. The image that people had on PKNS is that it is not a real corporate and commercial enterprise.

“Now, people realise that we have to adhere to corporate governance and integrity and are willing to face issues and correct them,” he added.

To questions pertaining to his perceived shaky position as the state’s top executive and whether he would step down as mentri besar, Khalid said: “I am not obliged to answer the question because it will have negative and positive impact.”

He added whether he would stay or resign as mentri besar was a non-issue.