Kulasegaran brushes off allegation of installing cronies in HRDF

Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran has defended the recent appointments to the board of the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).

According to the Ipoh Barat MP, the new appointees are all trustworthy former corporate titans.

“We are not going to appoint (former prime minister) Najib (Abdul Razak). Although there are recommendations, an evaluation process still needs to take place,” he is quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.

Critics raised concerns over Kulasegaran installing cronies into HRDF after he appointed a law firm to act as a collection agent for unpaid HRDF dues.

The allegations were spread by those who were unhappy that they were not appointed, the minister said.

“You do not get it, so you get upset, lah. (We) cannot satisfy everybody,” he said.

While Kulasegaran admitted that he knew most of the board members, he declined to confirm if he knew them in a personal capacity.

'Look at the credentials of the appointees'

“Doesn't matter. Does it matter?” he said, adding that the people should instead look at the credentials of the appointees.

“Previously, when they were in private sector, they were earning RM150,000 monthly.

“They are retired now and I decided they were movers and shakers of the industry, hence they should be taken in to serve. It is a national duty. These people came in to rejuvenate and bring their expertise,” he said.

Citing the appointment of the former managing director of Hume Industries Bhd, Quah Thain Khan, as an example, Kulasegaran said the former corporate bigwig brought in new ideas.

“That is how we formed the Governance Oversight Committee (GOC), the first among all GLCs, which is to correct the wrongs (of the previous administration) and suggest ways to overcome them.

"(People) can make allegations but all (appointments) are above board,” Kulasegaran said. - Mkini