TALAM & Selangor Government – Cleaning up previous government mess
By Dr. Rafick
1. Past week or so, the Selangor government deals with its GLC hits the limelight. If it was not highlighted by PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim in a strongly-worded” email to PKR representatives, the matter became a media interest as well as being used by BN Selangor to attack Khalid. The fact would show that this is a state matter and not a party matter. The state matter should have been addressed at the State Assembly.
2. For those who are not clear of the matter, I did some research on my own by talking to people in the right places and analyzing some materials in the public domain. The current situation arises because the State GLC has been used as a vehicle previously for the purposed of business. In most cases, the previous administration of the State gave away large tract of land to Talam Corp in exchange for some development projects. One such example is the University Selangor project. In most instances, Talam did not deliver its part of the bargain completely. Most of these deals are above board and the politicians that controls the GLC makes it happen in a magical way. It goes without saying that Chah Ah Chye and the past Selangor government have a hand in glove relationship.
3. The impact of the debt has led to the GLC not able to declare profits. Since it did not declare profits, it cannot pay divided to the State. In past, it is not important for the State to make money but it is important that key political figures and party continue to benefit from it. The total debt has ballooned to RM391 million and the GLC is not able to recover the money. They are stuck between politics, making profit and inability to collect debts.
Read more at: http://rights2write.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/talam-selangor-government-%E2%80
