VETERAN journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has mooted the idea that “garden leave should be made mandatory on public servants under criminal investigations” in refence to HRD Corp CEO Datuk Wira Shahul Hameed Shaik Dawood taking ‘temporary leave’ amid an on-going investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Shahul who has come under intense fire following numerous red flags/irregularities in the findings of Auditor-General’s Report 2/2024 and that by the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the HRD Corp’s accounts announced his voluntary leave of absence yesterday (July 18).

“I wish to inform that I’ve volunteered to take leave while investigations by MACC are on-going,” read the statement by Shahul who has been helming the agency responsible to drive Malaysia’s talent development since April 2020.

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

Even without any directive from their higher ups, Malaysians would expect particularly senior civil servants or head honchos of government agencies or even government-linked companies (GLCs) to practise their own discretion to take voluntary leave to allow space for investigation to be conducted in an independent and transparent manner.

Taking garden leave should not be equated as an admission of guilt or as a form of embarrassment although it is customary especially among top Japanese and Korean executives “to honourably resign” whenever they themselves or their organisations are linked to any form of scandal.

In Shahul’s case, several Pakatan Harapan (PH) lawmakers have been urging him to go on garden leave pending the MACC probe.

On July 9, Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin and Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim told the Dewan Rakyat that such move was necessary to restore public confidence following dismal findings in the Auditor-General’s report and that by PAC.

Hassan had pressed for Shahul to be suspended or terminated on grounds that he sits on both the HRD Corp board of directors and the investment panel.

Meanwhile, Sim who is also a PAC member recently reiterated that he would not shield any HRD Corp officials in the course of investigation.

“Whether appointing or terminating someone, whether in a GLC or a private corporation, there is a procedure for termination,” he contended in a media conference st the Parliament.

“When a case is under the MACC’s investigation, it’s not about terminating officials in the corporation; it involves a criminal offence. For the first time ever, MACC took immediate action by initiating a probe within 24 hours after the HR Ministry lodged a report based on findings by the Auditor-General and PAC.”

Recall that HRD Corp has in recent times incurred public wrath after it threatened to sue financial portal The Edge over “misreporting” its financial irregularities.

This has prompted PAC - in a strongly-worded media conference - to instruct HRD Corp to retract its letter of demand and to stop intimidating journalists and the media for it sees such action as an attempt to pressure the media from reporting PAC’s findings on the agency. - July 19, 2024

https://focusmalaysia.my/make-garden-leave-compulsory-for-every-public-servant-under-criminal-probe-dont-limit-to-just-hrd-corps-ceo/