In a police report lodged on Nov 7, HEB executive director M Ramachandran alleged Ramasamy, a DAP leader, had committed abuse of power and criminal breach of trust in managing the board’s funds since 2018.
Ramasamy said Ramachandran’s report was false and retaliatory in nature as the latter was facing an internal inquiry, which started in October, over claims of a board project awarded directly to his son-in-law as well as other allegations of ethics breaches.
“Given Ramachandran’s long service with the board, we wanted to give him a retirement package. Instead, he has gone and lodged a report making false claims (about me),” Ramasamy told reporters in Komtar.
“We have issued an immediate suspension order against Ramachandran and (he) was escorted out of his office this morning.”
Ramasamy said an independent panel of auditors would now carry out an investigation into Ramachandran’s alleged breaches, which may result in his termination.
He said a police report had also been lodged against Ramachandran and reporter Athi Shankar, who reproduced Ramachandran’s claims in a Facebook post.
The Penang DAP deputy chairman said he is also considering a defamation lawsuit against the duo.
According to Ramasamy, the HEB, a federal statutory body, had received a clean bill from the national audit department last year and in previous years as well.
“We have acquired assets to the tune of millions of ringgit. We are the envy of many as we turned a board with a bank balance of RM3,000 when Barisan Nasional (BN) was in charge of the state (before 2008), into what it is today,” he said.
When contacted, Ramachandran said he was shocked at being suspended and is now seeking legal advice.
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