HRD Corp CEO on garden leave tomorrow

• UPDATED 9.56PM | Added Shahul’s statement.

Human Resource Development Corp (HRD Corp) CEO Shahul Hameed Shaikh Dawood has been put on garden leave effective tomorrow.

This is pending an MACC investigation into alleged irregularities in the company.

In a statement posted on his Instagram account, Shahul (above) said he has volunteered to take leave while investigations are ongoing but he remains committed to the company.

“While I am away, the organisation will maintain all processes as usual and regular operations will continue to run smoothly to ensure there is no disruption to our services,” he said.

When contacted for confirmation of Shahul’s leave, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim told Malaysiakini, “Yes.”

Garden leave is the practice of instructing an employee to stay away from work - usually pending resignation or termination - while remaining on the payroll.

Yesterday, Sim had vowed that no one in his ministry would be spared if found guilty of misconduct, amid calls from MPs for Shahul’s suspension or termination.

However, Sim also said proper procedures must be followed on any appointments or dismissals.

Similarly, his ministry’s secretary-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud had said HRD Corp officers would only be suspended if a domestic enquiry is established.

HRD Corp is in hot water after the Auditor-General’s Department found that the government entity failed its audit and recommended that the Human Resources Ministry refer the company to the relevant enforcement agencies.

Separately, Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee revealed that HRD Corp had utilised RM3.77 billion in levies collected from employers for training development programmes for various investments that did not align with its original purpose.

The Human Resources Ministry lodged a report to the MACC on July 5, which then formed a special investigation team to probe HRD Corp.

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