A Selangor state assembly committee has recommended that Darul Ehsan Investment Group (DEIG) to be put on hold, pending the submission of a white paper.

“Operations of DEIG should be stopped for at least six months and it should not enter into any partnerships or agreements. We want to know why is there is a need to have DEIG when there is Menteri Besar Inc (MBI).

“Once DEIG is formed and run by the same person as MBI under Menteri Besar Azmin Ali, we fear there is no sufficient check and balance,” Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Saari Sungib was quoted as saying outside the assembly by New Straits Times today.

Saari heads the Select Committee on Government Agencies, Statutory Bodies and State Subsidiary Companies (JP-Abas), which tabled its report and recommendations to the state assembly today.

It is understood that the report was unanimously adopted by the assembly today, following a heated debate over DEIG and concerns from assemblypersons on both sides of the political divide that it lacks checks and balance.

The company was reportedly set up in December last year and launched in May this year to manage the investments of the state-owned Menteri Besar Incorporated’s (MBI) subsidiaries.

Among others, it was highlighted in the assembly that DEIG was set up under the Companies Act, and hence does not have to report its performance to the assembly, unlike MBI.

Meanwhile on Twitter, Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Azmin Ali said, “(The) state made a clear statement in the Dewan that the state will subscribe to the highest forms of governance,” in response today to concerns about DEIG.

Asked to explain the significance of the passage of the recommendations, Sekinchan assemblyperson Ng Suee Lim ( photo ) said the state government may choose to adopt or reject it.

The state assembly’s select committees do not have the power to compel Azmin or his government to do anything, in line with the principle of separation of powers, he said.

Ng also clarified that contrary to news reports earlier today that Saari had tabled a motion, what was tabled was in fact JP-Abas’ report.

“The motion tabled was to table the report (penyata) [...] Inside (the report), there are suggestions regarding this idea of setting up a new entity.

“Some of the committee’s members are worried and think there should be more monitoring,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Meanwhile on Facebook, Selangor speaker Hannah Yeoh also clarified that what was approved today is JP-Abas’ report on DEIG.

“This report contains the committee’s findings and recommendations on DEIG for the state government to consider.

“The state government has to table in the state assembly their responses to the Committee's recommendations in the next sitting in November,” she said on her Facebook account.