Pikom says no wrongdoings in relation to HRDF

PETALING JAYA: The National ICT Association of Malaysia (Pikom) has denied any wrongdoings by its current chairman Ganesh Kumar Bangah, and one of its past chairmen, in relation to the Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) amid allegations of RM300 million being misappropriated from the fund.
It was responding to an anonymous online article which alleged many training projects were awarded to the board of directors in a clear conflict of interest.
“Pikom emphatically states that in all its dealings whether with HRDF or otherwise with others, neither Pikom nor any of its past or current officers have ever engaged in improper conduct as alleged or suggested in the article,” Pikom stressed in a statement.
In order to avoid any perception of a conflict of interest, Pikom said Ganesh has resigned from the HRDF board, shortly after his appointment on March 29 this year.
“The online media channel proceeded to publish the defamatory article without first checking with or verifying information from Pikom or any of its officers. Pikom reserves all of its rights against the writer of the defamatory article, the online media channel and/or its owners, officers, shareholders, employees arising from the publication of the defamatory article.”
Three of HRDF’s board members and CEO Datuk CM Vignaesvaran Jeyandran have resigned since a town hall session with training providers was held in the presence of Human Resource Minister M. Kulasegaran.
HRDF is due to hold its AGM tomorrow and an announcement on the members of a governance oversight committee to assist its board is expected to be made then.