Khalid defends chairmanship in welfare arm of FT ministry
Mohamad Fadli
-June 11, 2019 4:37 PM
FMT
Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad.KUALA LUMPUR: Khalid Samad today defended his appointment as chairman of Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan (YWP), saying a minister should fill the post.
The Federal Territories minister cited Article 22 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A) of YWP, which stipulates that the post should be filled by a minister.
The M&A is a document which outlines and elaborates the essential components of a company.
“The appointment does not require the mandate of the federal government,” Khalid said at a press conference.
In February, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) warned Putrajaya against appointing politically linked officials to the welfare arm of the Federal Territories ministry.
The anti-graft group’s executive director, Cynthia Gabriel, said there was a “real danger” of politicians sitting in foundations and abusing their position “as seen in the past”.
Cynthia pointed out what seems to be political appointments in the new board of trustees of YWP, including a special duties officer to the Federal Territories minister, a PPBM division chief and a PKR coordinator.
Khalid pointed out that members of YWP’s board of trustees would not be able to benefit personally when carrying out their duties.
The board of trustees were neither paid or held shares in YWP and would not receive returns from profits made by YWP businesses, he said.
However, he did not dismiss claims that YWP had been abused in the past but added that following the change in government, it is being managed much better.
“Under a new administration, it is more transparent in increasing the quality of life of city dwellers,” Khalid, who is also Amanah communications director, said.
