Zambery still went ahead with Talent Solution

In our posting "Cronyism creeping into silver state" dated February 21st, this blogger touched on the challenges of Perak Menteri Besar, Dato' Seri Dr Zambery Abdul Kadir and the problems linked to people around him.

As a result, his contribution, whether actual or perceived, to Perak as a state and Perakians as it's most important stakeholder, is not seen as significant.

He is now grappling instead with practices of cronyism. There are specific projects not being carried out by existing Perak state government entities but instead by newly created and beutifully guised 'Fourth Floor'-like corporations, foundations and institutes.

Reliable informant claimed the Menteri Besar said some name mentioned in our previous expose did not know much of what is happening in his organisation. That raises another question: Is the person being by-passed within his own organisation? Who then is really calling the shots?

This leads to Zambery's launch tomorrow on Monday 21 March 2011 of the Perak Kerjaya Amanjaya (PEKA) career guidance and job centre created under the much elusive Institut Darul Ridzuan. Why is it that it is still being pursued with Talent Solution?

Has Zambery's administration refused to listen?

And do stop the shallow kampung political propaganda to divert attention from the true issues at stake. Let's not compell us to reveal more.

The career centre was reported to be proposed by Talent Solutions Sdn. Bhd. and as a content provider and operator, where else IDR will be the front for getting in all the monies from Perak state government.

PEKA seemed to be a noble idea for Perakians to be trained and up-skilled with the necessary programs and eventually placed. However, PEKA would be in collision with the Ministry of Human Resource (MOHR) Jobs Malaysia program, now being regenerated nationwide.

If PEKA is a good program for Perak, then the Exco should have been briefed and an approval from the highest decision making body be obtained first. However, Dr Zambery by-passed and just went along with Talent Solution's first job since being inception, which is less than four months ago, using IDR as the conduit.

Part of the program of 'train and place' or what this blog describe as "propose and plough" scheme is for Perak to pay for the training of the candidates on behalf of the industry or specific companies.

Otherwise, specific Federal Government agencies such as MOHR or MARA would foot the bill. PEKA would go around industries within Perak and then source out the candidates to be 'processed' via these expensive specific training programs candidates.

Some of the companiesto benefit from the overly generous program will include Kencana Petroleum (via Kencana HL - which based in Lumut) and Mydin.

Why these highly profitable companies need not pay for these training still baffles many but obviously these profit making entities are benefiting from budgets meant for social and economic development programs which do not bring returns?

Whether Perak or Federal Government such as MARA (using the 'Malay Agenda' excuse) is footing for this hare-brain scheme, it is clear that former Datuk Dr. Hamzah Kassim's right hand peoples' handiwork are at its best.


Already they are laying the groundworks with seminars and forums before they actually go for the kill.

Datuk Dr. Hamzah himself is no stranger to this "propose and plough" schemes, especially with regards to human capital sector. Being an NEAC member and informally advising the Federal Government on 'human capital' matters, Datuk Dr. Hamzah spared no stones unturned to corner business for that services sector.

Sources within stakeholders revealed that Datuk Dr Hamzah attempted to propose to the Federal Government for career centres which in practice would rivaled MOHR's Jobs Malaysia.

Considering that Innovation Associate Group do business with MOHR on human capital projects, it seems that they are very ambitious.

Coincidentally, 'Talent Solution' is the buzzword to describe Datuk Dr. Hamzah's Chief Human Capital Officer Czarina Alia's private venture Talent Solution Sdn. Bhd. which is trying to partner with IDR, despite he is still actively, legally and willfully part of the Innovation Associate Group of companies.

Another cronyism creature created by Zambery is Yayasan Bina Upaya (YBU). With IDR given the 'softwares' to play with, YBU gets the 'hardwares'. YBU gets the high value physical projects such as property development and public and low cost housing.

The CEO is Khairul Azwan, who is Pasir Salak UMNO Youth Chief and a strong advocate for the nationally-loathed UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin. IDR CEO Aminuddin Hashim, who was Datuk Dr. Hamzah's IA Associate Director also sits on the board.

One wonders now whether the man did not what is happening?

This blogger will spare the details and try the proper channel so as not to give bullets to crazy Nizar Jamaluddin.

This is truly a case of plough and plough which old timers in the corporate game snigger at the amaterishness of the scheme. It is too obvious and easily seen. MACC can build a case in just one raid.

Dr Zambery has to be more transparent. Despite both entities being state government GLCs, the Perak Exco is elusive for the activities and mode of operandi. Dr Zambery must answer a lot of questions regarding his very own 'Level Four' GLCs.

Why Perak Exco are not made known of these two organisations activities and more importantly, Perak Exco as the highest decision making committee's approval were never obtained?

Why Dr. Zambery did not use existing agencies such as Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Perak or Federal Government agencies such as Jobs Malaysia to undertake these programs is baffling.

It is suspiciously illustrating that Dr. Zambery, being a onetime-staunch-Anwarista is using these newly created and re-activated creatures to build his own war chest. Is he making the strategic move for Anwar Ibrahim to come back into UMNO?

Nevertheless, these cronysim practices in Perak would serve BN no good when the party is only has a borderline advantage over Pakatan Rakyat, which is starting to slide due to Dr. Zambery's inability to deliver and manage the expectations of the common Perakians, include the Malays.

It is time the blogger replay an ole boarding school cheer: Why are we waiting? Why are we waiting? Why are waiting? Why are we still waiting for an answer from Zambery and his team?

Dr Zambery had promised to engage us bloggers but have not kept his words. He has made himself systematically blocked by a group of insecure or guilty conscious officers within his office.

This blog does not have the high Alexa ranking as the likes of Parpukari, Gap, Gomo etc., but do heed our warning because it has the ears and attention of the necessary people.

Pardon us for being boastful.

FOR THE RECORD:
It has come to our attention that aspersions were made of certain people for information obtained in this blog. For the record, information obtained here were not obtained from other bloggers or members of the Perak exco. Do respect our ability to secure information.

Our only motivation is for the issue at stake be addressed. Let there be no diversion attempt using infantile psywar strategies.

1:40 AM 21/3/11