ALOR STAR: Kedah Umno Youth chief Mohd Raqib Abu Hassan has taken the state government to task over what he claimed was the latter's failure to address financial issues concerning state-owned Kedah Agro Holdings Bhd.
Raqib said he was dismayed by Kedah Pas's defense of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's alleged reluctance to settle the salaries of Kedah Agro employees, blaming the company's financial state.
"This is the problem when leaders are excessively glorified. What is wrong becomes right. While the people suffer, Pas leaders proudly flaunt luxury vehicles worth hundreds of thousands of ringgits.
"This time, Sanusi proudly showcases a Hyundai Palisade car worth RM380,000, even parading himself visiting high-end motor showrooms. Where is the empathy of a leader? Is this the Islamic teaching that Pas adheres to?" he said in a statement today.
On March 13, it was reported that a notice had been submitted in January to Kedah Agro to clear salary arrears of up to nine months.
It was alleged that Kedah Agro, a subsidiary of Kedah Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI), had not paid its employees' salaries since last September, which is a violation of Section 19 of the Employment Act 1955.
Human Resource Minister Steven Sim said Kedah Agro would pay around RM560,000 in current and overdue salaries before Hari Raya Aidilfitri after the decision was made at the company's board of directors meeting recently.
In response, Sanusi likened Kedah Agro to "leeches" for being unable to generate its own income. (hyperlink: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nst.com.my/amp/news/nation/2024/03/1029...)
Sanusi said the Auditor-General had cautioned Kedah Agro in 2016 after the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) state administration had then allowed MBI to cover part of Kedah Agro staff salaries.
Sanusi also said the state government is considering providing a loan to Kedah Agro to settle the salary arrears of all 24 staff.
Meanwhile, Raqib claimed Pas's behaviour of refusing to pay salaries is a recurring issue, citing alleged compensation issues concerning teachers of the Pas-affiliated Islamic kindergarten Pusat Asuhan Tunas Islam (Pasti).
"Pas pays Pasti teachers very low wages, only RM600 to RM750, because supposedly they are Pas volunteers.
"However, Pas members of parliament (MPs) can afford to drive Mercedes Benz cars, and Mazda CX5, why not use the funds more wisely to care for Pasti teachers' welfare," he added.
Commenting further, Raqib urged Sanusi to drop any excuses and fulfill the salary obligations to Kedah Agro employees.
"Their excuse, the company is incurring losses. Since when is a company's loss a license to not pay workers' salaries? If that's not called oppression, I don't know what else to say.
"But I didn't expect Pas has opted once more to 'volunteer' employees by avoiding wage payments to Kedah Agro employees who have fulfilled their duties," he added.
