New HRDF key panellists chosen

KUALA LUMPUR: A former top civil servant and a veteran journalist are among five key appointments announced for an oversight committee to the Human Resources Develop­ment Fund (HRDF) which has been rocked by fund abuse allegations.

The appointments are former International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, litigator Fahri Azzat, debt restructuring and recovery professional Fiona Soh, Chartered Institute of Management Accoun­tants associate S. Dhamodaran and journalist R. Nadeswaran.

Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran said the committee was tasked with oversight responsibilities, including reviewing aspects of its board’s governance framework and ensuring it functioned in an efficient manner to support HRDF’s operations.

“We want to ensure HRDF’s modus operandi is as transparent as possible to give its contributors confidence that their money is well spent and every sen accounted for.

“The committee will have access to company records, the people working here and even the public,” Kulasegaran told reporters here yesterday.

He had earlier urged the HRDF to be more transparent with its funds following allegations of misappropriation.

On June 22, HRDF chief executive officer Datuk Vignaesvaran Jeyandran announced his resignation.

The committee, said Kulasegaran, had been given about 100 days – in line with Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto – to find solutions.

He also said 15 members were appointed to the HRDF board, 40% of whom were new.

The members, said Kulasegaran, voted in HRDF’s annual general meeting to look for new auditors, who would be appointed soon.