'Azmin has yet to address eight key questions regarding DEIG' - Budiman

Selangor Menteri Besar, Mohamed Azmin Ali has yet to address eight key questions relating to the setting up of the Darul Ehsan Investment Group (DEIG).

Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) Assemblymen secretary, Budiman Mohd Zohdi said, this had caused uneasiness among the public towards the state government’s administration.

“The survival of DEIG will be at stake if Azmin continues with his plans and this is causing the people to worry. Until today, the people have yet to understand the purpose behind the setting up of DEIG. Eight issues had been raised regarding the matter and Azmin has yet to address them.

“Azmin only talks about the role of the state government and does not touch on the need of setting up DEIG and how it is different from the existing Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI),” he told reporters when met at the Selangor UMNO building here today.

Azmin had previously been reported as saying that DEIG had been set up to give focus on the state government’s investment sector, asset and business.

He said the entity, which is fully owned by MBI, would also help reduce the business impact and risk towards the state government.

Budiman had previously said the Selangor BN assemblymen are considering the possibility of filing an application for judicial review in a bid to cancel the establishment of the DEIG which will managed the investments of all subsidiaries under MBI.

He said, the move was necessary as DEIG was established under the Companies Act 1967 in December. Under this act, the company does not need to be audited and its financial report presented to state assemblymen.

Budiman said, Azmin had not answered questions regarding its operations, registration, transparency, role and the appointment of top posts in DEIG.

“Azmin had clearly said that DEIG has not begun its operations and will only begin during the first quarters of 2016.

“The issue here is, is it true that the company has yet to operate?” he asked.

Budiman has also asked Pandan MP, Rafizi Ramli and Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua to sit down together and discuss the public’s grouses on the issue.

“They have yet to issue a statement regarding their stand on the issue.

“They have always spoken about integrity, transparency and accountability. Transparency should cross party boders.

“The people will become more concerned if you keep on evading the issue and remain silent,” he said.

On Sunday, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican had urged Azmin to invite the Auditor General to look into the handling of DEIG assets as what had been done by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue.

He stressed, the move was necessary to identify any mismanagement of funds.