Lawyers to seek full severance payout for ex-Selangor MB’s aides

(Malay Mail Online) – Lawyers representing Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s former aides will be demanding more money from the Selangor government, claiming that they were only paid 30 per cent out of their total severance package so far.

The Star quoted a source close to the ex-Selangor mentri besar’s aides as saying so, and that the lawyer’s letter of demand to state-owned Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) will be sent soon.

“They were not paid until the end of their contractual terms and I believe they will now be claiming full settlement,” the source was quoted as saying.

It was not stated how much the amount for the full severance payment would be.

Last week, state-owned Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) sent a legal letter demanding the eight former aides to return an overpaid severance payment of about RM2.6 million, and had given the aides a two-week deadline.

MBI’s audit last year had revealed that former MB Khalid acted unilaterally without the consent of MBI’s board of directors in giving out those payment to his former staff.

“The board of directors of MBI not including the MBI chairman, at any time after August 25, 2014 had never given any final agreement for the implementation of payments to be made to the eight officers and staff members as decided by the MBI chairman on September 22, 2014,” said the audit report.

It also stated the board of directors were never consulted or given an opportunity to decide on the said severance payments, and that they had only agreed to the voluntary separation scheme (VSS) which was not by any means a blank approval.

Khalid, who was sacked from PKR during the tussle over the Selangor MB post, has since claimed ignorance over allegations that his former aides were issued the severance payments after he stepped down from his position.

He was succeeded by PKR deputy president and arch rival Azmin Ali.