KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim can expect to face more scrutiny when the Selangor assembly convenes next week as lawmakers from both sides of the political divide plan to ply the state government for details on the severance payments made to his former aides.
The former mentri besar’s successor Azmin Ali has already said that the state has completed a full audit on the payouts, which were reportedly sanctioned by state-owned Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI).
Azmin is yet to disclose details of the audit but has said that the report will be brought for discussion with the MBI board at its meeting tomorrow.
But apart from that, Malay Mail Online understands that at least four state assemblymen from both Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Nasional (BN) want the matter raised and dissected in the Selangor legislative assembly, which will sit this November 24.
Formal questions on the severance payments, believed to have been made to eight of Khalid’s former aides upon his departure from office two months ago, have already been submitted to the Selangor Speaker’s office in time for it to be addressed and answered during the sitting.
“Four questions to be raised by BN, PR on the severance payment,” a source familiar with the matter disclosed to Malay Mail Online.
When questioned, a Selangor executive councillor refused to disclose validity of the purported RM2.5 million amount, but said that Azmin’s administration was “actively” investigating the matter.
“The question is not of the alleged amount, but whether they actually deserve a high fee as severance payment,” the exco member spoke to Malay Mail Online on the condition of anonymity.
Khalid has so far claimed ignorance over the issue, even indicating surprise last week when he was informed of how much his former appointees were supposedly paid when he was made to leave the administration.
The embattled leader was quoted in The Star as saying that he was unsure how much the eight received, only that they were offered the payments due to his departure.
“If the calculation is correct, then it’s correct but I don’t think so,” Khalid was quoted saying after a function in Sungai Besi on Saturday.
The Bandar Tun Razak MP then explained that his aides were given payments under a “voluntary separation scheme” (VSS) that was offered to them upon his departure from office.
He said the decision was made by the state-owned Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI), and was even presented to the state executive council, the English daily reported.
“The board is made up of three people — the mentri besar, the state secretary and the state financial officer,” he was quoted saying.
Khalid also reportedly said that MBI had cash reserves of up to RM112 million and that the VSS payments to his aides took up no more than two per cent of the amount.
“I followed all procedures, they can be audited,” The Star quoted him saying.
Last Friday, Seri Andalas state assemblyman Xavier Jayakumar had hinted at the matter on microblogging site Twitter.
“Sel gov has instructed its state investment arm, MBI, to recover RM2.5mil given to former aids to TSKI?” the PKR political bureau member wrote using his Twitter handle @xavierjayakumar.
But Xavier did not write any further tweets on the same issue.
This September, Azmin took over the Selangor mentri besar post from his former political rival Khalid — who was forced out before serving out his five year term.
