Johor rep against stripping of valuable GLC assets

Government-linked companies (GLCs) should not sell assets with good potential, said Johor state assemblyperson Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid.

"(I) hope that there is no plan to take the easy route in the future in privatising or selling off good assets with high potential to any party, especially if the GLC is able to develop the project itself," the Kempas assemblyperson said in his speech delivered at the Johor legislative assembly.

Tengku Putra Haron said such assets and projects should not be sold to benefit others while GLCs are left with only assets that do not have much potential and might not be as valuable.

He referred to the Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's speech made at the opening of the assembly last Thursday.

The Johor sultan had called for GLCs and their subsidiaries to be managed in an organised manner, following the guidelines set by the government.

Sultan Ibrahim also said those in charge of GLCs should not ask for high salaries without providing any returns to the government.

On the death of eight teenage cyclists in February, Tengku Putra Haron called for the Child Act 2001 to be applied on reckless parents or guardians in the future.

It had been reported that the teenagers were part of a group who rode modified bicycles together late at night.

Johor Baru Selatan police have reportedly carried out five operations against similar cycling groups in the first two months of this year.

Tengku Putra also pointed out that the police had reportedly confiscated 17 modified bicycles during that period.

"Clearly, this tragic accident has not left its mark on the other teenagers using modified bicycles," he said.

A solution has to be formulated for these teenagers to do their hobbies and activities in a safe environment, where their parents are aware of their location and the authorities can be sure they will not be breaking the law, Tengku Putra Haron added.- Mkini