KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Former International Trade and Industries Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria has been appointed to an oversight committee that will review governance at the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), M. Kulasegaran said today.
Rebecca is among five people named to the board weeks after allegations that RM300 million was misappropriated from the HRDF.
The others on the committee, which will be given a free hand to review HRDF's direction and past activities, include lawyer Fahri Azzat and veteran journalist R Nadeswaran.
“Just like the Pakatan Harapan manifesto, we hope to get this done within 100 days,” the minister said.
The other two members of the committee are Fiona Soh, a debt restructuring professional and chartered accountant M. Dhamodaran.
Nadeswaran said that he considered his appointment an opportunity to serve the nation.
“It is a recognition of the expertise and knowledge of journalists in specific fields. I have written extensively on HRDF over the years.
“I am honoured in being appointed and consider this as national service,” he said.
Kulasegaran also said that during the HRDF’s annual general meeting today, members voted not to retain the firm’s current auditors.
The board will now seek new auditors as replacements.
