THE Federal Territories Ministry has removed Gobi Krishnan as a member of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) excise licensing board.
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim in a statement said following a check with the Insolvency Department on Aug 3, the ministry confirmed that Gobi had been declared a bankrupt.
ALSO READ: Shahidan urged to explain bankrupt appointee to DBKL board
"Gobi Krishnan Saranggabani was appointed as a member of the excise board effective July 20, 2021, with his tenure ending on July 19, 2023 based on Section 86 of the Eksais Act 1976, which was gazetted on July 24, 2014.
"Following a search with the department, it has been confirmed that Gobi Krishnan was declared a bankrupt effective Jan 7, 2021.
"However his appointment for the period of July 20, 2021 until Aug 3 was valid and did not contravene any laws and regulations," he said.
Shahidan added that the law does not say that a bankrupt can not become a member of the excise board, nor does it say that the position will be vacated automatically if a member is to become a bankrupt.
"Despite that, we feel that to ensure an effective service in Kuala Lumpur, we have cancelled his appointment," he said.
It was recently reported that Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng had asked Shahidan to explain the appointment of a bankrupt individual to the DBKL excise board.
Lim said DBKL should publicly reveal if there are other appointments and staff members who are insolvent but still serving in DBKL.
