PKNS defends its dismissal of nearly 30 employees

The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) has clarified today that the dismissal of nearly 30 of its employees from its subsidiary PKNS Holdings Sdn Bhd (PHSB) was done in accordance to the terms of their employment contracts.

According to the The Sun Daily, PKNS public relations manager Ishak Hashim said the move was carried out in line with the corporation’s restructuring of its human resources operations.

He added this will also avoid duplication of duties with existing PKNS employees “and in accordance with the governance policies favouring PKNS’ efficient service and ‘value for money’.

On Tuesday, BERNAMA reported nearly 30 PHSB employees were dismissed by the management company with 24 hours notice through a letter that was personally signed by its chairman Datin Paduka Norzalina Zakaria.

PKNS Senior Marketing Manager Dr Alif Aiman, who spoke on behalf of the dismissed employees said they were shocked by the development as there had not been any discussions prior to their dismissal.

"The shock that we got when attending work today (Tuesday) is akin to persecution as there is no sound reason for the termination which is a real hardship for us, being the families' main breadwinners.

"What we regret is even now we all still do not know why we have been dismissed when we have not committed any offence against PHSB for which we were willing to sacrifice time and energy to develop," he said.

In an immediate reaction, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim denied any involvement in their sacking.

He said their dismissal was the sole decision of PHSB's management and deemed that the development was not sacking but non-renewal of service contracts of the staff concerned.

He added that he was notified by PHSB's management that it was a restructuring exercise to make the company more "lean".