Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim refuted a statement made by the Poverty Eradication Foundation (YBK) that its financial audit reports were published on its official website since 1999 for public display.

"I never said YBK did not have projects, but there have been no annual financial reports for YBK yet. If they were given property or land, they should submit the annual reports to the state government, but they haven't," he said.

The state government had earlier stated its wish to appoint Abdul Khalid as YBK chairperson and Selangor Welfare, Women's Affairs, Science, Technology and Innovation Committee chairman Rodziah Ismail to the board as the state government's representative to ensure transparency and sound management of YBK.

YBK chairperson Zainal Abidin Sakom was reported as saying that the organisation would have to immediately pay RM6 million in quit rent arrears if they did not accept Abdul Khalid as chairman, which would delay the development of a UiTM campus on the foundation's land in Serendah, Selangor.

Joint anti-poverty programmes

Abdul Khalid called for the foundation to join forces with the state government in carrying out poverty eradication programmes in the state.

He said as the state government was also implementing poverty eradication programmes, joint cooperation would ensure that the programmes were managed well.

"It will be beneficial for the foundation to work with us, just like we are working with Mais (Selangor Islamic Religious Council), so that we can focus on helping the poor and avoid overlapping programmes.

"The state's resources are limited, and we have a lot of poor people to help. By cooperating, we can better manage our resources and that of YBK," the menteri besar told reporters after chairing a Selangor Economic Action Council meeting in Shah Alam today.

In another development, Abdul Khalid said the state government would give the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) two weeks to resolve the issue of relocating the bus and taxi operations from the old bus terminal in Klang town to the Klang Sentral Station in Meru.

"The MPK has informed me that the problem is almost resolved as most of the bus and taxi operators have agreed to move, and tomorrow they will discuss with the councillors to find the best solution," he said.

- Bernama