The Selangor state assembly's Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) will initiate a public hearing on the controversies surrounding the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS), its chairperson Hannah Yeoh said today.

 

Yeoh, who is also state assembly speaker, said the committee would summon one of its own members, PKR deputy president and Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyperson Azmin Ali, along with Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as key witnesses.

 

The hearing will probe both Azmin's controversial "sacking" as a PKNS board member and also into the sacking of 22 PKNS staff recently, that led to Azmin asking for Khalid to stop using his powers against political rivals.

 

The hearing will take place on March 25 and March 26, two days after the conclusion of the widely watched Kajang by-election, that PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim will contest.

Changes in state gov't expected after by-election

 

Should Anwar win the by-election, changes are expected in the state government, no less to the MB position itself.

The controversies over PKNS since the turn of the year has worsened relations between Azmin and Khalid, two of PKR's most prominent leaders and rivals in Selangor.

Azmin, who made a bid to become MB of the state after the 13th general election last May, has been a vocal critic of the Khalid administration since the Khalid was re-appointed MB for a second term.

Khalid and Azmin's worsening relations, which also divided their factions of supporters, has been credited as one of the reasons why the by-election was engineered by PKR in order to bring Anwar into a role within the state government.

It is largely believed that Anwar would attempt to replace Khalid as MB after the by-election, should he win the Kajang seat.

PKNS general manager Othman Omar on Dec 4 last year wrote a letter informing Azmin that he had been removed from the board on Dec 4 and that this was in line with a decision made by the state executive council.

However, Khalid and his exco said they did not made any decision on Azmin's position in PKNS and thus Othman and another PKNS staff were transferred in the aftermath of this controversy.

The duo's transfer attracted criticism of the state government from state PKR leaders such as Kuala Langat MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid and Batu Caves assemblyperson Amiruddin Shaari.

Early this month, the state sacked 22 PKNS contract workers on a 24-hour notice and two months’ salary compensation, an act that Azmin described as "inhumane".

Khalid said the dismissals were carried out for greater transparency in PKNS and to avoid them being used as “political tools”.