Sacked HRD Corp COO claims he was blocked from warning minister
Published: Jul 17, 2024 6:40 PM
Former HRD Corp chief operating officer Ariff Farhan Doss said he tried to meet with at least two different human resources ministers to alert them of issues at the agency but was “blocked”.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Ariff, who was sacked in May, said despite being the company’s second-in-command, he was not invited to meetings with the ministers.
“I am always blocked from meeting the minister. I didn’t get to see V Sivakumar or Steven Sim. They will block and not allow me to meet them,” he said, without disclosing the identity of the individuals who allegedly blocked him.
Sim replaced Sivakumar following the cabinet reshuffle last year.
Ariff (above) is embroiled in an unfair dismissal complaint against HRD Corp, which announced he was no longer COO on May 15.
He believes his dismissal was related to his testimony to the bipartisan parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on alleged mismanagement at HRD Corp.
The recent Auditor-General’s Report called for enforcement action on HRD Corp after the entity failed its audit.
“Until today, I have tried to meet Sim several times, but certain people in the ministry and the company blocked it.
“I have texted Sim to request a meeting but there is no reply,” Ariff elaborated.
Minister unaware
During a press conference at Parliament today, Sim said he was unaware of anyone attempting to prevent meetings with him or the ministry’s higher management.
He added that those keen on meeting him should be patient in securing an appointment as his ministry is dealing with numerous matters.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim
“But my door is always open to meet with anyone. No instruction has been given to block anyone from meeting the minister or the higher management.
“If you haven’t received an appointment yet, I ask for your patience because we have been extremely busy over the past six months,” he said.
Malaysiakini is also contacting Sivakumar for comment.
In his PAC testimony, Ariff said HRD Corp spent RM1.5 million to renovate a building in Tapah, Perak, and he was tasked to ensure the project was ready before the general election so that then-minister and Tapah MP M Saravanan could officiate it.
HRD Corp CEO Shahul Hameed Shaikh Dawood told the PAC that the building was meant to be a centre for the local Orang Asli and Tapah was chosen because it was the minister’s constituency.
Saravanan later responded he was not involved in the decision to renovate the Tapah building.
Ariff also told the PAC that the HRD Corp management organised lavish events and conferences, allowing it to access funds paid by employers meant for training employees and that the events were merely “ceremonial”.
“If you haven’t received an appointment yet, I ask for your patience because we have been extremely busy over the past six months,” he said.
Malaysiakini is also contacting Sivakumar for comment.
In his PAC testimony, Ariff said HRD Corp spent RM1.5 million to renovate a building in Tapah, Perak, and he was tasked to ensure the project was ready before the general election so that then-minister and Tapah MP M Saravanan could officiate it.
HRD Corp CEO Shahul Hameed Shaikh Dawood told the PAC that the building was meant to be a centre for the local Orang Asli and Tapah was chosen because it was the minister’s constituency.
Saravanan later responded he was not involved in the decision to renovate the Tapah building.
Ariff also told the PAC that the HRD Corp management organised lavish events and conferences, allowing it to access funds paid by employers meant for training employees and that the events were merely “ceremonial”.
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