SHAH ALAM, January 21 – The forming of an action committee to handle retrenchment problems was announced by the state government today.

Dato’ Menteri Besar, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the committee would be chaired by him while its members would comprise of State Executive Council members.

According to him, the committee would meet once a week beginning January 30th to discuss ways of overcoming the problem of retrenchment in this state.

“The main scope of discussions would include in-depth research into various retrenchment situations in Selangor, drafting measures to assist those involved as well as coming up with solutions including training assistance, financial aid and business opportunities in the state,” he said at a media conference after chairing the weekly State Executive Council Meeting this afternoon.

Abdul Khalid said since early September last year he had given reminders on the impact of the world economic crisis.

He said, as expected, retrenchment would be started at this time especially involving electric and electronic companies.

He said, the amount of people who had been laid off was not fixed as there were companies which chose not to disclose such retrenchments to the public.

The state government hoped that the committee which would also include the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC), Director Of Human Resources and Director of Welfare in Selangor, can lend some assistance to those who have lost their jobs by giving alternatives for them to maintain a livelihood.

The state government also invited certain members of the Selangor Business Council to join the committee.

State and central Economic Development Units, as well as Selangor State Investment Centre Berhad (SSIC) will act as the committee’s secretariat.

Meanwhile, Abdul Khalid said the state government had been informed that the Court of Appeal today allowed the appeal by the people of Kampung Sungai Terentang, Rawang, to set aside Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) entry notice in the area.

He said, the court also declared the entry notice given out by TNB on 21 July 2007 as void and issued an injunction against TNB from entering the area and erecting an electric tower.

He said the state government respected the decision and would continue to give full cooperation to TNB to continue the Central Area Reinforcement (CAR) project.

“We will assist (TNB) because CAR is important to Selangor and the Klang Valley. At the same time we would also like to ensure that the rights of the people are protected.

“Therefore we hope two solutions that had been previously discussed, which were either using an alternative route or underground cable will be accepted by TNB as they have agreed upon by the people of Sungai Terentang,” he said.- NOOR ALLIA KASSIM