SHAH ALAM, Feb 6 — The mass sackings at Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor Holdings Sdn Bhd (PHSB) were the result of revelations made by whistle blowers, Selangor MB Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said today.
Khalid also said the cull of 22 jobs were part of a restructuring exercise to cut costs at the state-owned body.
“Since 2012 and 2013, we have started receiving information and letters from PKNS officers about their views on PKNS management,” Khalid told reporters.
Khalid claimed that PKNS has saved almost RM7 million a year from the restructuring exercise.
The Port Klang assemblyman explained that the termination was in line with the integrity pact signed between PKNS and Transparency-International Malaysia.
Under the pact, whistle-blowers had lodged complaints that permanent staff were blocked from promotion to higher posts which were occupied by PHSB employees.
New posts and departments paying high wages were allegedly created to be filled by PHSB employees, said Khalid of the complaints.
There were also complaints that PHSB employees were appointed by recommendations, bypassing proper hiring procedures, said Khalid.
Khalid maintained he was not involved in the mass sackings, saying it was newly-appointed PKNS general manager Azlan Alfiah’s responsibility.
He added that the job cull followed due process.
Khalid assured the public that PHSB or PKNS will not be left in turmoil after the posts were vacated, since the redundancies meant there are permanent staff in the same posts to pick up the slack.
On Tuesday, nearly two-thirds of PHSB’s staff were sacked immediately, without warning.
They were compensated with two months’ pay in lieu of notice. They argue they are due the full remainder of their remaining contracts.
PHSB describes itself as specialising in equity and real estate investment, marketing, property management, hospitality, ICT and investment holding.
PKNS had since explained the move as a reorganisation based on the state-owned firm’s policy of prioritising efficiency and “value for money”.
The latest development comes after a shakeup in the PKNS itself, which saw general manager Othman Omar and executive secretary Norita Mohd Sidek relieved of their duties over the removal of Selangor PKR chief Azmin Ali from its board of directors.
