Legal firm hired to handle Balkis issue

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/9/nation/3664090&sec=nation

SHAH ALAM: Selangor has appointed the legal firm of Fernandez and Selvakumar to handle the issue of the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation (Balkis).

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the firm would first write to the relevant agencies, including the Registrar of Societies (ROS), on the validity of the association’s dissolution.

He said the letter would request the ROS to stop Balkis’ dissolution.

Balkis was dissolved in March last year by its members at an emergency general meeting soon after the general election.

The association also transferred the RM9.9mil in its coffers to the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti).

Balkis was helmed by former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s wife Datin Seri Zaharah Kechik.

The money is currently being held by the Malaysian Insolvency Department.

According to Khalid, legal action would be instituted against several parties, including the ROS, Balkis members as well as the association’s trustees if the response received was not appropriate.

The state government is demanding a return of the money which had been mostly donated by state-owned agencies.

Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Khir was reported as saying that Balkis was a non-governmental organisation and had nothing to do with the state government.

He said that by virtue of this, the monies which had been donated to Balkis now belonged to Bakti, which is also a non-governmental organisation.