24 Feb 2009

SHAH ALAM: Two top officials of state subsidiary Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd have been asked to go on leave immediately over allegations of accounting irregularities.

They are PNSB chief executive officer Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan and finance manager Nora Azmin Radzuan.

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said he had uncovered several offences in record-keeping and other weaknesses in PNSB.

He said that among the accounts probed were those that had been given to the Inland Revenue Board.

Also being investigated is the purchase and sale of properties in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Khalid said the two women had been given 30 days of paid leave so that auditing and updating of accounts could take place.

It is learned that Khalid personally handed the letters to them yesterday.

Nora is also Selangor Puteri Umno chief.

It is also learned that investigations have revealed that some of the accounts submitted to the IRB did not include perks enjoyed by some of the previous top officials.

Another issue being investigated is a RM159,250 Patek Philippe watch given as a souvenir to former PNSB chairman and Selangor menteri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

It is understood that the watch was presented to Dr Khir before the March 8 general election. He has since returned it.

However, there are questions over the accounts.

On the properties in Mecca, PNSB is believed to have bought apartments but later sold them without approval. The audits are expected to reveal to whom they were sold.

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