Three HRDF board members involved in training projects resign

PUTRAJAYA: Three board members from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) who were involved in training projects have tendered their resignation on Monday according to Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran (pix).
"I am pleased to inform that three of the board members of the HRDF have resigned yesterday, we are looking to accept those resignations," he said at a press conference at the ministry headquarters today.
He said that there are eleven more board members who are not subject to any action by the ministry and the board will run as normal.
He informed that the positions of the three people who resigned were directors.
"We are happy to see that they resigned and made our situation easier," he said.
He also added that replacements for these board members will be done in due course.
When asked if he would act on calls for HRDF CEO Datuk CM Vignaesvaran Jeyandran to resign, Kulasegaran said that he should be given a chance.
"I am a firm believer that everyone must be given a fair chance, we have not found any discrepancies yet, I'm just overseeing as a minister, but we will do the due diligence," he said.
He added that there will be more clean up to be done.
In a town hall meeting with the minister last week, trainers had taken HRDF to task over key issues.
The two-hour-long town hall meeting saw disgruntled training providers bring up issues of lack of transparency pertaining to tenders, lack of engagement and quality of training providers commissioned by HRDF.
One participant alleged that tenders by HRDF have seen participation by their own board members, in a clear case of conflict of interest.
HRDF CEO Datuk CM Vignaesvaran Jeyandran, who was in attendance, acknowledged that the organisation was short staffed and is unable to deal with complaints channelled to the organisation within 48 hours, as stipulated.
Kula said if allegations of board members being involved in tenders are found to be true, they will be removed from the board on Monday.
"It is good that these board members resigned before I removed them," he said today.
Vignaesvaran said HRDF board members were appointed by the former minister, Datuk Seri Richard Riot, and are representatives of trade associations who pay levy, as provided for under the PSMB Act 2001.
He said he has provided Kula with a "review" of the current board members of HRDF.