KUALA LUMPUR – Government backbenchers have called for the leadership of the embattled Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp) to be suspended from their duties amid the ongoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation.
PKR lawmaker Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH), who is also a member of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), urged for HRD Corp chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Shahul Dawood to be put on garden leave to facilitate the graft busters’ investigation.
“It’s nothing personal, (but) since this is a big issue, I suggest that there should be action to ensure that (HRD Corp’s) CEO takes a garden leave amid investigations,” Sim told the Dewan Rakyat today during his debate on the Auditor-General’s (A-G) Report 2/2024.
The A-G’s report regarding irregularities within HRD Corp recommended that the Human Resources Ministry take appropriate action against the government-linked corporation’s management by referring them to enforcement agencies.
Labelling the suggestion as one which is out of the norm, Sim said there is a need to restore confidence among citizens and employers contributing to HRD Corp’s funds.
“If it’s found that HRD Corp’s top management or CEO is not guilty, then it’s okay, they can come back (to execute their duties), but for now, it’s best to let the relevant agencies carry out their tasks.”
The PAC’s three-volume report on the corporation found, among others, that HRD Corp’s management was found to have practised poor governance while undertaking suspicious procurement methods for real estate which could have caused the corporation to suffer losses.
Besides that, Sim’s fellow PKR member Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang-PH) called on Human Resources Minister Steven Sim (Bukit Mertajam-PH) to take immediate action against HRD Corp’s leaders.
“I suggest that the ministry suspend or terminate (HRD Corp’s) managers, (including) its CEO, who holds two positions within its board of directors and investment panel,” Hassan said in his debate.
“HRD Corp is one of the 11 agencies investigated by the A-G (which has) plundered the rakyat’s money. The rakyat are forced to sacrifice and ‘ikat perut’, but the people who were supposed to do their jobs have failed.”
Hassan said HRD Corp’s alleged mismanagement should be investigated by police, adding that findings detailed in the A-G’s report hints at elements of criminal breach of trust.
Chiming in, Deputy Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands-BN) agreed with Hassan’s suggestion, suggesting that the corporation could be probed by police’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department.
Last week, Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud, accompanied by Shahul, had submitted a report to the MACC regarding the A-G’s findings on HRD Corp.
Khairul said no HRD Corp personnel have been suspended following the release of the report on July 4 as the matter is now being investigated by the MACC, instead of an internal inquiry.
MACC Investigation Division senior director Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hasim has since confirmed that the anti-graft agency is probing HRD Corp for bribery, power abuse and funds misappropriation under the MACC Act 2009.
He added that while no witnesses have been summoned thus far, MACC is not denying the possibility of calling in individuals to facilitate investigations.
This comes after the MACC had earlier today collected relevant documents from HRD Corp and the Human Resources Ministry.
The A-G’s report on HRD Corp highlighted several concerns, including how the corporation had amended its key performance indicator goals for 2020-2023 without the approval of its board of directors.
The actions and decisions by HRD Corp’s management, the audit report said, did not comply with procedures and failed to protect the interests necessary to achieve the corporation’s objectives. – July 9, 2024