Despite stressing that he would not vacate his post, Vignaesvaran resigned the same day.
Human Resource Development Fund (HRDF) chief executive officer Datuk Vignaesvaran Jeyandran has tendered his resignation effective June 21, the same day he was reported saying that he was not vacating the post due to allegations of RM300 million fund misappropriation and conflict of interest.
HRDF said in a statement on Friday (June 22) that deputy CEO Lim Kah Cheng would take over as the acting CEO immediately.
“The Human Resource Minister (M Kulasegaran) has directed HRDF to establish a Governance Oversight Committee with a mandate to assist the HRDF board of directors to fulfil its oversight responsibilities.
“The committee shall review all aspects of the board’s governance framework to ensure the board functions in an effective and efficient manner, to support the operations of the HRDF.
“Members of the Committee will be announced following HRDF’s Annual General Meeting next week,” it said in its statement.
Kulasegaran also called on the HRDF to be more transparent with its funds as many allegations had surfaced on social and mainstream media over the misappropriation of funds.
HRDF had said previously that it took all allegations made against the fund seriously and pledged to extend full cooperation to the Human Resource Ministry and the relevant authorities.
Complaints about the misappropriation of RM300 million were first highlighted by Bagan assemblyman M Satees and Seberang Prai Municipal Council member David Marshal who had lodged a police report on the matter.
SG Education Group chief executive officer Ganes had also submitted evidence backing the charges to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Since then, three HRDF board directors who were involved in training projects tendered their resignations on June 11.
Meanwhile, Lim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology from the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM).
He is also a Chartered Fellow with the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development as well as the First Fellow of the Australian Human Resources Institute.