PNSB CEO Datin Khairiyah Abu Hassan said PNSB paid RM82,227 for that trip, including more than RM19,000 for library books, RM25,000 for accommodation and transportation for four people, inclusive of RM3,000 allowance for reporters and crew, and RM10,000 for the production of a video clip on Balkis.
Testifying before the Selcat on the second day of a public hearing probing into excesses of Balkis which obtained its funding from the state government and several state owned companies, she said the "repentance programme" involved the repair of a library, purchase of books and cash contributions to orphanages and families living in Muslim villages in Cambodia.
Selcat is chaired by Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim while its members are Bkit Antarabangsa state assemblyman Azmin Ali, Taman Medan assemblyman Haniza Talha, Ulu Kelang assemblyman Shaari Sungib, Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee, Dusun Tua assemblyman Ismail Sani (BN), and Permatang assemblyman Sulaiman Abdul Razak (BN).
Khairiyah: "This was a programme designed to make people repent."
Teng: Who repented?
Khairiyah: Both sides repented. Because when those who visited the country saw how much of suffering there was, they repented.
Teng: So those who were suffering saw that we were rich, and so they too repented?
Khairiyah then said she reserved her comment on the terminology used as it was one that was coined by Balkis.
Azmin: So, did you notice a change or a tinge of repentance in those who went for the trip?
Khairiyah: That is subjective.
Haniza:"Why did the company agreed to sponsor a programme in Cambodia. Is there a lack of poor in this country that you have to go all the way to Cambodia to help?"
Khairiyah: There were 40 other people on the trip, including Balkis members, non-governmental organisation (NGO) representatives, corporate figures and the media.
Balkis president Datin Sri Zaharah Kechik headed the entourage, but PNSB only paid for four of them.
Khairiyah had earlier said that since 2002, PNSB had set aside RM1 million as annual allocation for Balkis every year.
Responding to a question on why PNSB had breached this allocation by giving Balkis RM1.6 million in 2003, she said: "We did not want to say no to a state programme. We have to support state programmes, as a state subsidiary, we are devoted to this."
She agreed that PNSB supported Balkis because it represented the wives of the elected representatives.
Khairiyah who assumed the post of CEO in 2007 from her previous post of Deputy CEO II (a post she held from 2002) admitted that although in some instances PNSB received formal letters from Balkis requesting for contributions, it was common practice for PNSB to disburse payments upon oral requests.
She also conceded that there were times when no receipts or acknowledgement of receiving the payment was received from the organisation.
Asked if PNSB was a cashier for Balkis as they paid up large and even small amounts for sundry expenses upon request she said: "We have the allocated budget for Balkis (RM1 million annually) so we pay accordingly."
She admitted negligence in some instances where large expenses like RM53,000 for a mass wedding reception for new converts to Islam were not recorded clearly by the accounts department, and in the process received an earful from Teng.
Teng : "This is the rakyat’s money and here there is no record or detail on how it is spent, do you know the meaning of amanah (trust)"?"
Khairiyah: "It is to manage something to the best of our abilities."
She also said that PNSB was apolitical when questioned how in 2003 money from the company was used to disbursed Hari Raya hampers to all constituencies in the state except two under the opposition reign during that time.
Khairiyah was also asked to explain how the company could approve the purchase of a RM3,600 Summermen’s suit consisting of a jacket and a pair of pants requested by Balkis for then Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo knowing very well that he and Balkis president Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik were husband and wife.
The suit was presented to Mohd Khir at a Chinese New Year event organised by Balkis in 2004.
Khairiyah had earlier disclosed that she was quite close to Zahrah.
Azmin: "Don’t you know that the general orders for civil servants states that they are not allowed to receive gifts worth more than RM1,000."
Khairiyah: "I am not aware of this, I was just asked to purchase the item for Balkis, and at that time I was just the implementor."
Khairiyah was also grilled about a Balkis "humanitarian" and "financial support" programme in Bukit Tinggi in Indonesia which objective was ostensibly to "learn about the lifestyle and the Malay archipelago in Indonesia".
Haniza: "What was the RM16,000 PNSB contributed for? Was there a calamity for humanitarian funds to be paid out?"
Khairiyah: The RM16,000 was to pay for a RM5,000 dinner for 50 pax, a RM5,000 lunch for 50 pax while the remaining RM11,000 was for contingency.
She said she had also gone on that trip with 49 other people and added that the trip was headed by Zahrah.
Khairiyah was also questioned about a RM13,000 payment for food and entertainment which PNSB paid for a charity concert dubbed "Malam Seroja" organised by Balkis. She said the RM13,000 was paid to Abdul Malik Kechik the caterer for the event who also arranged for the singer.
The hearing continues tomorrow with Khairiyah scheduled to explain RM33,000 in expenditure for sports attire that PNSB purchased for Balkis members and delegations to a sports event put together by the organisation.
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