YBK fiasco: Drop request, Khalid told (www.mmail.com.my)
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010 14:03:00 - Azreen Hani
PETALING JAYA: Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim should drop his "request" to head the Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) Selangor and let the beleaguered UiTM Serendah project continue for the benefit of the State.
This is the call by two Selangor Umno stalwarts, Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and deputy State Umno chief Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who felt the installation of the MB as the foundation's head would be a travesty.
Dr Mohd Khir said he was also offered the position during his tenure as MB but had declined it. Noh, meanwhile, said that previous Selangor MBs had understood YBK's role as a non-governmental organisation, hence there was no reason for Khalid to interfere now. (See accompanying quotes)
It is also learnt that former Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abu Hassan Omar, during his tenure from June 1997 to August 2000, wanted the State to take over YBK and that he be its chairman.
However, the proposal was abandoned after he was advised against it by the then State's legal adviser. It is also learnt that the proposal was met with opposition from one of his exco members.
Efforts to contact Abu Hassan have been unsuccessful.
The Paper That Cares had exposed the fiasco on Jan 6 when it reported that Khalid had directed YBK and its subsidiary Permodalan Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan to appoint him as its chairman and Batu Tiga assemblyman Rodziah Ismail as one of the trustees.
This move resulted in an NGO, Bersih Bangun Selangor (Bebas), lodging a report against Khalid with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
YBK chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Sakom has also been mulling legal action against the State government.
Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo:
"The actions by the MB just show his arrogance. How can an MB threaten an NGO not to carry out a project just because he wants to be its chairman?
"We understand that he is in power now, but his actions are not right. He is acting more like a samseng (gangster). He has tarnished the image and the office of the Menteri Besar.
"Even when I was the MB, I refused any position in the foundation.
Our principle was to monitor and support YBK.
"I believe the MB's actions are politically-motivated, with the intention to use YBK as a political
tool.
"I am afraid the State government will do something with the land for its own purpose.
"Halting this project also means limiting possible developments in Selangor, which I think is a ridiculous
move by the MB.
"The State government should be thankful that there are NGOs willing to manage economic operations in the State, not just YBK. We also have Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) and others. I firmly believe that YBK should be left to manage itself.
"Even if the State government is dissatisfied with how YBK is run, it should discuss the matter, rather than act to its own whims and fancies."
Datuk Seri Noh Omar:
"YBK ought to forget about developing the UiTM project in Serendah. I think it would be better if the project is not approved rather than to hand YBK over to the MB and his people.
"YBK should look to other States that are more friendly and willing to cooperate in making this project happen.
"The actions of the MB only show his true colours, with priority to himself and his cronies.
"The former MBs understood the role of YBK as an NGO. That was why they never interfered. So what is the motive of this action?
"I also want to know whether this action was decided by the MB or the (State economic) adviser, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim?"
We want transparency, says Khalid
THE Selangor government had maintained that it wants to be involved in Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan to ensure transparency.
The Press Secretariat of the Menteri Besar's Office said in a statement on Jan 7 that its decision to participate and have a say in the foundation's running is to ensure transparency and accountability in managing State resources that have been handed over to the foundation.
The statement said: "This decision was taken as the State was worried about the lack of transparency in ensuring that the foundation's resources were managed prudently and benefited the poor in Selangor. This includes the 448 acres of land in Serendah.
"Since we have provided a huge land bank to the foundation that is worth millions, the State must make sure that the poor people in Selangor benefit from the use of the land.
"It's not a political decision but a tactical one to ensure that the resources are managed in a transparent
and accountable manner.”
|
