Wednesday October 29, 2008
MB Khalid defends non-bumi PKNS appointment
By ELAN PERUMAL and LIM CHIA YING
SHAH ALAM: Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has defended the appointment of a non-bumiputra as the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) acting general manager, saying that she is a senior officer who has served for 33 years.
The Selangor Mentri Besar said that Low Siew Moi, who was due for retirement, had served the
44-year-old organisation as its deputy general manager (for corporate development) for the last 11 years.
Low was picked from within
the PKNS and not “out of nowhere,” he said, adding that she was
fully aware of the organisation’s affairs.
“Low is fully aware of the fact that she will have to relinquish the position as soon as the right candidate has been identified,” he told a press conference after the State Assembly sitting here yesterday.
Khalid expressed surprise that some quarters had used her being a non-bumiputra as grounds to oppose her appointment.
Meanwhile, the Selangor Malays Residents Action Body held a small demonstration outside the state secretariat building here to protest against the appointment.
The group, led by its chairman Kamaruddin Raja Ab Wahid, said the move infringed Malay rights and insulted the Sultans.
Selangor PAS commissioner Da-tuk Dr Hassan Mohamed Ali said that after meeting Khalid, it
was agreed that Low’s appoint-ment would be a short-term measure.
“The Mentri Besar has agreed to this proposal and therefore Low’s appointment will be on day-to-day or weekly basis,” Dr Hassan told reporters yesterday.
“Now it will depend on PAS to nominate a candidate. After that, a suitable person fills up the post.
“The candidate chosen must be experienced in property, accounting and auditing.”
Former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said it was the Mentri Besar’s prerogative to choose a candidate but that it should have been done in consultation with officers.
“Usually for a high post like this, the person must be a Malay. If I had done this (without consultation), then I would have been labelled as arrogant,” he said.
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