Azmin dismissal: PKNS denies Selangor MB's statement

Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) denied Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s statement that Mohamed Azmin Ali’s dismissal from the PKNS Board of Directors was the decision of the corporation, and not by the state.

PKNS executive secretary Norita Mohd Sidek it was the state executive council which had the power to appoint a board member.

In a statement, she confirmed that the PKNS had informed Azmin, who is also the Bukit Antarabangsa state assemblyman on the matter, in a letter dated Jan 8, 2014.

“His termination was in line with the decision made at the state government executive meeting (MKKN) on Nov 13, 2013 and confirmed by the MKKN on Dec 4, 2013,” she said.

“PKNS would also like to clarify that the power to appoint a board member is in the hands of the MKKN and not the general manager, as stated in the PKNS enactment clause 4(1),” she added in the statement.

Khalid told media on Wednesday that he was not involved in the decision to drop Azmin who is also the Parti Keadilan Rakyat deputy president, from the PKNS Board of Directors. Instead, he had stressed that the decision was made by PKNS general manager Othman Omar.

There were talks that the decision to drop Azmin had something to do with the PKR’s election in May this year.

“The decision was not made by exco but was decided by the PKNS GM. It is not the party’s decision. Exco did not make the decision,” he said.

“In the exco meeting minutes, no one was dropped. The letter was goven to Azmin and he accepted. The exco merely accepted their decision,” he said at a press conference after the exco meeting on Wednesday.

He also gave his assurance to provide relevant documents regarding Azmin’s dismissal from the board soon.

“We will produce the letter and exco meeting minutes on Dec 4, in two weeks’ time. I am now studying the Official Secrets Act,” he added.

It is believed that the bad blood between Azmin and Khalid is because of the Selangor Menteri Besar position, which Azmin is said to be eying.

Meanwhile, Khalid also said that Othman’s contract which expires at the end of the month will not be extended.

He is expected to be replaced by Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) chief financial officer Azlan Md Alifiah.