Azmin takes aim at Khalid over PKNS sackings

PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president Azmin Ali today criticized Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim over the sacking of 30 PKNS Holdings Sdn Bhd (PHSB) employees, saying that the move was an attempt by Khalid to use PKNS as a political weapon.

“In the interest of justice and good governance, Khalid must stop using the PKNS as a personal weapon against his perceived political rivals,” said Azmin who is also Selangor Backbencher Club head in a statement today.

PHSB is a subsidiary company owned by PKNS, a state government linked corporation.

On Tuesday, 30 PHSB employees were notified that their contracts had been terminated with immediate effect and they were awarded two months’ severance pay.

The reason given for the termination exercise was that it was PHSB’s restructuring plan. However Khalid on Wednesday told the media a different story.

Khalid said the termination was done because he wanted to avoid the PKNS from being used as “a political and personal tool by certain parties”.

Azmin urged Khalid and other officials to immediately revoke the dismissal letters given to the 30 employees and to apologise to the people of Selangor for taking an “inconsiderate and high-handed action”.

He said that the termination exercise was against Pakatan Rakyat government’s principle of treating employees with dignity and compassion.

He noted that the two months’ severance pay only serves to add salt to the wound and that the immediate termination was a violation of the employment laws and is ‘grossly inhumane’.

Both Khalid and Azmin attended the launch of the PKR Wanita’s election machinery for the Kajang by-election last night.