M. KULA SEGARAN wants Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan to answer allegations of tensions at the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) over the purchase of a building in Cyberjaya.

In a statement, the former human resources minister said the failed move to buy the building using HRDF funds had triggered talk that its chairman had threatened to quit the organisation, barely months after assuming the position.

“Saravanan must address these allegations against HRDF, if it’s true or false, as he is duty-bound to Malaysians. 

“Is it true that the chairman of HRDF threatened to resign? If so why? Did the board reject the idea to purchase the building?” the Ipoh Barat MP asked in a statement.

Kula Segaran said there has been talk that other investments by HRDF have also caught the eye of the authorities, resulting in a pushback from the board, which was reconstituted after the fall of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.

“The last thing we need is for HRDF to return to the days of negligence where funds were misused.”

He said Saravanan must explain the need to buy a building using HRDF funds at a time when the economy is not doing well. 

“Isn’t it the duty of HRDF to protect the welfare of Malaysians, by not splashing the cash on a building at a time when employers cannot even make their contributions, let alone survive the economic effects of the pandemic? 

“Should we not keep the domestic labour market resilient, which would mean a deal like this at this time would serve as a disservice to HRDF.”

Kula Segaran said that HRDF’s objectives are clear, which is to assist employers to run training and development programmes in order to skill, upskill or reskill their workforce so they become more valuable to their companies. 

“In the ‘new normal’, HRDF’s role in our nation is as vital as ever, as we are moving towards automation, IR4.0 and the advent of the future of work. 

“We need HRDF to be led by capable people in order to steer the human capital of the nation in the right direction.”

He said that during his tenure as minister, he ensured that HRDF would undergo a complete overhaul by establishing a governance oversight committee to rid the agency of weaknesses and misuse of power. 

“We also seconded a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officer to the organisation to establish proper rules and regulations in the HRDF governance’s clean-up.”

He added that HRDF in 2015, purchased six floors of a “landmark skyscraper” with RM154 million despite the board not having approved the purchase. 

“I hope these abuses of HRDF funds do not make a comeback.” – October 11, 2020.