Zulhaidah bt Suboh

Former PKR secretary-general Salehuddin Hashim’s animosity with his former party was possibly due to his failure to bag the top job at a Selangor government-linked company.

In a statement today, PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali alluded to the fact that Salehuddin’s recent anti-PKR stance could be due to the Selangor government’s decision not to appoint him as chief executive of Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Bhd.

Kumpulan Perangsang, owned by Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Bhd, is one of the biggest state-owned conglomerates with interests in infrastructure, utilities and properties.

Syed Husin said Salehuddin had served well as secretary-general, despite occasional run-ins with party leaders. However, failing to become Kumpulan Perangsan’s CEO broke the camel’s back.

“His anger climaxed when his ‘application’ to be CEO of Kumpulan Perangsang, which carries a monthly emolument of more than RM50,000, was rejected before he resigned as party secretary-general,” he said.

Syed Husin also revealed that Salehuddin’s services to the party were never free of charge, as popularly believed during his tenure.

“I wish to put the record straight that he had agreed to accept RM9,000 a month, although earlier he requested for US$3,000 monthly,” said Syed Husin, adding that the sum was paid by a party supporter.

‘Salehuddin’s claims unfounded’

Salehuddin was a prominent corporate figure before ditching the business world to administer PKR back in 2008. He was also a contemporary of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar.

In recent weeks, Salehuddin has made appearances at the separate press conferences by Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim and Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng when they announced their departure from PKR.

Salehuddin’s presence sparked speculation that he is masterminding an exodus from PKR, fueled further by his claims that at least 10 more are expected to quit soon.

Syed Husin said only time will tell if Salehuddin is telling the truth.

“Nevertheless, with the information I have, I believe that this is unfounded and part of a baseless psychological war against the party,” he added.

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The government will accord recognition to the customary rights (NCR) lands under the existing law and state land code.

State Planning and Resource Management Minister II Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said today the government had never seized the rights of the people and instead wanted to help them to develop the NCR lands to lift the rural folk from the grip of poverty.

“We want the NCR lands developed and not transferred to irresponsible parties,” he said at a seminar on land matters in conjunction with the 12th Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Convention here.

He said that since 1965 when Sarawak was hit with a land development crisis, the state government had defending the NCR lands to prevent them from falling into the hands of irresponsible developers.

How? Fuji Perfect’s saga is a perfect example.

He said that under the Land Custody and Development Authority (LCDA) the government would ensure that every NCR land development project observed the conditions and rules agreed upon by the developer and landowner.

On the provisional list (PL), he said it was issued for NCR land to be developed by the plantation industry and those landowners who did not want to be involved in oil palm plantation and reafforestation could withdraw from the project.

He said any problems relating to NCR land, especially those involving the PL, should be resolved as soon as possible. — BERNAMA
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