6 theSun | TUESDAY APRIL 7 2009

news without borders

Selangor wants Balkis

MACC wraps up probe millions to be
returned to state
on Penang deputy CM UN
divided
on
response
by Tan Yi Liang
newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: The Selan-

PENANG: The probe into alleged
graft involving Penang Deputy
Chief Minister Mohammad Fai-
rus Khairuddin was completed
yesterday, the Malaysian Anti-
Corruption Commission (MACC)
said.
Penang MACC director
Latifah Md Yatim told Bernama
investigation papers would be
forwarded to the prosecution
division soon.
The MACC picked up Fairus
in Johor Baru on March 26 for
questioning on the alleged graft
involving a quarry company. He
was later released.
Latifah and a team of MACC
officers went to Fairus’ office on
the 52nd floor of Komtar tower
yesterday morning and took
several documents.
When asked about the mat-
ter, Latifah said it was normal
procedure to facilitate investiga-
tions.
She said the MACC also
questioned several witnesses,
including VIPs.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister
Lim Guan Eng told a news
conference that the state govern-
ment would cooperate fully with
the MACC.
“The MACC has asked for
documents and we have handed
them over. The state government
has nothing to hide,” he said.
Fairus tendered his resigna-
tion as deputy chief minister on
March 21, which will take effect
tomorrow.
gor government has written
to rocket to the Malaysian Insolvency
launch Department to confirm that it is
handling over RM9.9 million in
pg 9 funds held by Balkis – the charity
and welfare organisation of the
wives of Selangor elected repre-
sentatives, which was dissolved
in March last year.
“In a letter dated April 6 this
year, the state government has
asked the Insolvency Depart-
ment to confirm this, which was
told to the Select Committee on
Competency, Accountability and
Transparency (Selcat) by Reg-
In a statement issued
yesterday, Nik Nazmi, who is
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan
Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s
political secretary, called for the
money to be returned to the state
government if it is in the hands
of the department.
“If it is true that the funds are
being handled by the Insolvency
Department, the Selangor state
government asks for the funds
to be given to the state govern-
ment for further action,” he said,
adding that the state government
has a responsibility to receive
the funds.
“We have a responsibility
to handle the RM9.9 million in
funds considering that they are

‘Retrenchment volume in Penang stable’ istrar of Societies officer Tairah

PENANG: The volume of retrenchment
in the state has been stable for the past
few weeks, Penang Labour Department
director Hoe Lean Fatt said.
“About 300 employees were ret-
renched last month compared with
1,200 in January,” he told Bernama here
yesterday.
Hoe said the stabilising volume was
due to employers adopting cost-cutting
measures such as the reduction of
salaries, overtime payments and working
hours, halting bonuses and asking staff
to clear annual leave to reduce operating
costs. He said the department had been
monitoring the situation and would hold
two job fairs every month to match job-
seekers with suitable vacancies.
Hoe also urged affected people,
mainly from the manufacturing sector
and fresh graduates, to register with the
department as there were about 1,600
vacancies available in the state.
He said the Human Resources Minis-
try had launched various schemes such
as job re-emplacement, train and place
as well as train and retain programmes.
Yusof at last week’s hearing,”
Seri Setia assemblyman Nik
Nazmi Nik Ahmad said.
Tairah had before the Selcat
on March 27 testified that the
RM9 million which was in
the bank accounts of Balkis at
the time of its dissolution was
being handled by the depart-
ment.
among others, contributions
from state agencies. Based on
legal advice given to the state
government, the dissolution of
Balkis was illegal.
“We hope that the Insolvency
Department will be very profes-
sional in handling this case and
provide the needed confirmation
as soon as possible,” Nik Nazmi
said.