Datuk Dr Hassan Ali

Hassan, who is also executive councilor for Islamic and Malay Affairs and Infrastructure and Public Amenities, said this after a brief meeting with Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim who had on Monday announced Low's appointment, although she was due for retirement end of this month together with present GM Datuk Harun Salim.

"The MB has heard us out and accepted our thinking and informed us that his appointment of Low over two others, deputy general managers, Hj Nasir and Tuan Ghani, was based on her capability," he said today.

He was referring to Deputy GM (Administration and Development) Md. Nasir Md. Arshad and Deputy GM (Technical) Abdul Ghani Hashim.

"We feel Low has strengths, but the two others have their strengths too which should have made them eligible to hold the post. The norm, when a PKNS general manager steps down, is for the general manager in charge of administration and development to take over. But this did not happen," said Hassan.

"Our aim under Low and her successors is to boost the Bumiputra stake in projects in the company from the present 25% to reflect the aims of the new economic policy."

Hassan said PAS will look for the best candidate to run PKNS which has 800 staff, adding that a list of suitable candidates will be presented to his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) colleagues.

He said PAS was willing to accept the suggestion of candidates by other PR partners as long as everyone was happy with the choice.

Asked why he did not oppose earlier, he said although he was involved in preliminary discussions on who to appoint, he was not informed of the outcome as there were many breaks in between the Hari Raya festivities, among other matters.

Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo

Former Mentri Besar and Sungai Panjang state assemblyman Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the decision on who to appoint as PKNS GM is the MB's perogative. "But usually this post is held by a Malay.

"This move seems to undermine the capability of Malays to run a company such as PKNS. I received calls and memorandum from officers at PKNS and I told them that this was the MB's prerogative and he may have done it for some good or otherwise, but it has been a policy for top management in PKNS to be Malays."

DAP's Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim said the state had made a brave move in appointing Low as acting GM.

Outside the gates of the state secretariat, several members of a non-governmental organisation, Badan Bertindak Penduduk Bangsa Melayu Selangor (Selangor Malays Residents Action Body), protested Low's appointment.

The group led by its chairman Raja Kamaruddin Raja Ab Wahid said that act infringed on the rights of the Malays and insulted the Sultans.

On another matter, Mohd Khir said the RM100,000 bonus which he was alleged to have received in his capacity as PKNS chairman was a monthly allowance he accepted only if the company made profits.

"I had decided that I would receive the monthly allowance if there were profits and if there were no profits, then I would not have accepted it," he said.

"This is a norm in any company," Mohd Khir said, adding that the RM100,000 was for a year and he did not receive anything apart from this.

His role was to pore over some documents and to sign cheques for amounts above RM1 million. This amount is determined by the officers and not the chairman and it is contained in the constitution, Mohd Khir said.