PKR lodges report over Balkis funds - The Star

SHAH ALAM: May 2, 2008

The Selangor PKR has lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) over the transfer of RM9.9mil from the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation’s (Balkis) accounts.

PKR state information chief Mohd Nasharudin Abdul Aziz lodged the report at the state ACA headquarters at about 3pm Friday and submitted a 15-page report on various allegations against the organisation.

Nasharuddin said PKR wanted the ACA to investigate the transfer of the funds as well as the organisation’s other activities which might have had elements of abuse of power and corruption.

He also wanted the ACA check out any wrongdoing involving the transfer of large amounts of funds from any state-owned company to the organisation’s coffers.

Balkis landed in trouble after it applied to the Registrar Of Societies to dissolve the organisation and transferred RM9.9mil from its coffers to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) following an emergency meeting held just three days after polling day on March 8.

The Pakatan Rakyat state government is now questioning the legality of the meeting called by its president Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik and the decisions taken at the meeting.

According to Balkis’ constitution, the presidency for the organisation is offered to the Mentri Besar’s wife and the state govermment now argues that Zahrah’s husband Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo no longer held that post after the elections.

Selangor ACA director Ja’afar Mahad, when contacted, confirmed that the report had been lodged but said the agency would concentrate its investigations on Balkis’ expenditures.

He said the agency could not investigate the transfer of funds out of Balkis’ accounts as it was an allegation of criminal breach of trust and as such did not come under its purview.