GEORGE TOWN, May 21 — The Penang Hindu Endowment Board (HEB) will review its procedures over keeping gold in its office in Komtar following the loss of three gold bars from its safe in December last year.
HEB chairman Prof Dr P. Ramasamy(picture) said this would be done after the police complete investigations into the missing gold bars.
“The gold bars and gold items, often taken out and melted to make ornaments for use in Hindu temples during festivals, are customarily kept in the HEB safe in its office on Level 30 in Komtar,” Ramasamy said.
“It was for convenience … but we have a strict set of procedures to follow whenever an item is removed from the safe but sometimes, due to human error, the procedures may not be followed,” he added.
On June 14 last year, one of the gold bars was found missing and on December 26, a further two gold bars were also found missing.
Board secretary M.P. Selva discovered the loss while conducting an inventory audit in December.
The gold bars weigh a total 1.62kg and are worth about RM250,0000.
After the discovery of the loss, an internal inquiry was held, led by board members and lawyers Mureli Navaratnam and Ram Pillai.
The inquiry recommended that the HEB lodge a police report over the loss.
Selva subsequently lodged a police report at the George Town district police headquarters on May 17.
Ramasamy, who is also Penang chief minister II, urged former board secretary R. Siva Nathan to come forward and assist the police in the investigation.
“We feel that he should assist in the police investigations as he was the secretary when one of the gold bars went missing,” he said.
Siva Nathan resigned in August last year.
Once the case is resolved, Ramasamy said HEB may consider placing its gold and valuable items in a bank safety box and put in place more stringent procedures for their removal.
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