THERE were discrepancies in testimonies from two senior officers of the Human Resources Development Corporation (HRD Corp), revealed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
According to reports in the New Straits Times, this was regarding the engagement of an event management company previously owned by its chief executive officer (CEO).
Before his appointment in 2020, HRD Corp’s CEO Shahul Hamid Shaik Dawood owned My Events.
The report noted that on January 18 this year, CFO Farizul Yahaya told the committee that HRD Corp engaged event management companies to run some of its internal programmes.
Responding to a question by Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru-PH), Farizul said that My Events was one of those companies.
However, Shahul, in his testimony, denied My Events was involved in organising HRD programmes as conflict of interest would be an issue, given his past ownership of the company.
Responding to Sim’s question, Shahul said, “I understand the concern, but I would never make that kind of costly mistake.
“Allowing My Events to manage HRD Corp events would be a conflict of interest, and I have always avoided such situations,” the PAC report quoted him as saying.
He firmly stated that My Events had not done work for HRD Corp, offering to resign within 24 hours if proven otherwise.
“If somebody can prove that My Events has done a job for HRD Corp, I’ll leave HRD Corp in 24 hours. All this fitnah has to be supported by facts and figures.
“We have corporate ethics and we are all trained… in terms of corporate governance and integrity. My Events has never done a single event for HRD Corp during my tenure. HRD Corp has not given (My Events) even one dollar,” he said.
When questioned about the possibility of My Events working as a subcontractor, Shahul clarified that while major contractors in the industry might know him due to his extensive experience, he had strictly prohibited event management companies from organising HRD Corp events to reduce costs.
Shahul said that upon his appointment as HRD Corp’s CEO, he stressed the need to “never allow” event management companies to organise events for HRD Corp in a bid to cut costs.
He said that between 70% and 80% of HRD Corp events are run by its own staff, with third parties called in only when equipment is required.
The PAC report noted discrepancies between Shahul and Farizul’s testimonies concerning My Events’ alleged involvement with HRD Corp.
HRD Corp, tasked with advancing Malaysia’s talent development through employer levies for training programmes, was found to lack oversight in its investment activities.
The New Straits Times said the PAC’s findings indicated the investment panel failed to report to the board of directors, leading to risky investments.
PAC chairman Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin revealed that since 2017, no representative from Bank Negara Malaysia had been on HRD Corp’s investment panel, violating the Human Resources Development Act 2001.
The report also highlighted irregular procurement procedures for land purchases and incomplete documentation provided to the board for several transactions.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating issues from the 2024 Auditor-General’s Report, which recommended the Human Resources Ministry refer HRD Corp’s management to enforcement agencies following an audit failure.
The report criticised HRD Corp’s management for procedural non-compliance and neglecting the company’s interests. – July 9, 2024
