SHAH ALAM: A legal firm said today the payment of compensation and ex-gratia to former Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim’s (pic) team of political aides and staff is a common employment practice.

Bon Advocates, which had acted for Abdul Khalid, said that when an agreement was reached for a mutual early termination of an employee’s contract, an agreed sum was paid as compensation.

“The quantum that is paid is usually the balance unexpired term of the contract and a discretionary ex-gratia sum for services rendered.

“In this matter, the (Selangor) state secretary and state financial officer were part of the decision-making process,” the firm said in a statement Friday.

Eight contract officers of the former mentri besar appointed by Mentri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI) reportedly received employment compensation amounting to RM2.3mil, which was described as unreasonable by several parties including Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad.
The payment was made at the end of Abdul Khalid’s term of service, before Mohamed Azmin Ali took over as the menteri besar on Sept 23.

Mohamed Azmin was reported as saying that he had no objection if the Selangor Competency, Accountability and Transparency Committee (Selcat) wanted to investigate the issue.

He also reportedly said that the state executive council meeting did not have the authority to determine the amount of compensation or gratuity for MBI officers and the method of payment was decided by the MBI board chaired by Abdul Khalid as the former menteri besar.

In this regard, Bon Advocates said, its client welcomed the state audit currently underway and any investigation on the matter.

“He (Abdul Khalid) will cooperate to assist in any query that might arise,” said the legal firm. – Bernama