'Depends' - Annuar on whether conflict of interest for him to chair Yayasan

 

Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said he will consider suggestions made by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its probe into the sale of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) land.

However, contrary to the recommendations, he said Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan will remain a foundation chaired by the minister.

The PAC report had noted a conflict of interest in the minister's and Kuala Lumpur mayor’s involvement in the foundation. This is because the foundation was discovered to have purchased land from DBKL, an entity also led by the minister and mayor.

In a press conference at the Parliament lobby this morning, Annuar dismissed such concerns.

“In (the foundation’s) Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A), it says whoever becomes the federal territories minister will automatically be appointed.

“Therefore I am now the chairperson, as was appointed by the foundation. I was not appointed by just anyone but the foundation. Khalid Samad (the previous minister) was previously the chairperson also,” he explained.

Pressed if ministerial involvement in the foundation constituted a conflict of interest, Annuar issued a caveat.

“That depends on what we do.

“That’s why I said we can consider the PAC’s observation. We are not in denial. If the PAC makes an observation, as long as it has basis, it is not wrong for us to give serious consideration to its recommendations and observations,” Annuar answered.

The minister also clarified that present KL mayor Mahadi Che Ngah (photo) was not on the foundation’s board of directors.

“I scrutinised the foundation’s M&A and found that the mayor does not hold any positions in the foundation.

“So there is no conflict of interest between the mayor and the foundation,” he said.

The PAC had recommended that Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan be restructured to remove involvement by the minister or mayor.

It also urged it to be converted into a statutory body to allow government supervision, especially by the National Audit Department.

To this, Annuar maintained that the foundation will remain a non-government organisation (NGO) registered with the Companies Commission.

“The foundation will remain as an NGO,” he said. - Mkini