A Kuala Semesta Sendirian Berhad (KSSB) official was today grilled by the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) over the bonuses awarded to the company’s staff in 2008 and 2009. 

NONE Non-executive chairperson Abdul Shukor Nagor ( right ) testified that the company awarded an interim bonus of two months' salary in December, 2008.

The bonuses were awarded just four months of the company being in operation.

Following this, Abdul Shukor testified that four months' bonus was awarded to each staff in June 2009.

He justified this by claiming that the staff had “worked very hard”, resulting in a profit of RM7 million for the company by June 2009.

He added that his KSSB was in a “difficult” industry and faced “regular threats”. He said up to 40 police reports have since been lodged over the threats.

KSSB's monopoly

Selcat chairperson Teng Chang Kim was unimpressed by Abdul Shukor’s claims that KSSB’s task was “difficult”.

NONE "You are a monopoly in Selangor, so what's so difficult?" asked Teng, who is also Selangor assembly speaker.

Teng further questioned KSSB's judgement, stating that no other company would grant such generous bonuses.

"You work four months and get two months bonus. So if you work the whole year then you can expect 6 months bonus," he said sarcastically.

Abdul Shukor, in his 10-minute testimony, responded by stating that KSSB only has a 17 percent market share.

Abdul Shukor will continue his testimony tomorrow.

Selcat is currently holding a three-day hearing over allegations of graft by KSSB, first highlighted by Kapar MP S Manikavasagam. 

Exco made to testify

Earlier, Selangor cabinet member Yaakob Sapari was quizzed by the Selcat panel for one and a half hours before completing his testimony at 11.30am today.

NONE Yaakob's portfolio oversees agriculture, natural resources and entrepreneurial development.

To a question from Selcat panelist Azmin Ali, Yaakob ( left ) said KSSB had mistakenly announced that the projected state royalty from sand sales was RM150 million.

Yaakob also skirted a suggestion from Azmin that the projected figures was mooted by former KSSB advisor Anuar Mohd Nor.

Anuar, whose corporate credentials are under dispute, was appointed KSSB advisor during its setting-up.

According to Azmin, his services were terminated last month.

Yaakob explained that Anuar’s position was scrapped after it was decided that KSSB could operate on its own.

To date, the company has paid RM5 million in royalty to the state and contributed approximately RM10 million, or 10 percent of its profits, to the Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor (MES) programme.

MES, in turn, distributes the funds to the state’s Village Safety and Development Committees (JKKK).

Kapar MP appearing tomorrow

NONE The next witness was Selangor Land and Mining Department director Abdul Nasir Hassan ( right ).

Kapar MP S Manikavasagam - the PKR leader who created a storm after alleging he possessed evidence and witnesses to back his claim that Selangor-owned Kuala Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) is involved in illegal sand-mining activities - is scheduled to appear tomorrow.

When contacted, Manikavasagam said he will attend tomorrow's hearing but will refuse to speak since he has reported the matter to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and is thus barred from publicly discussing the case