'Pack your sunscreen' — Now, GLC under PMO treats staff to all-expense paid holiday in Bali

An all-expense paid holiday trip to Bali for employees of a real estate management company parked under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) is likely to raise concerns about good governance, MalaysiaNow can reveal.

It is learnt that Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad (PHB), which is tasked with managing property assets to increase Bumiputera ownership of prime commercial properties, will be flying its employees on an all-expense paid trip to the Indonesian holiday island next month.

A source told MalaysiaNow that the company will spend RM2,450 per person for the trip, its first overseas "retreat" for employees.

When contacted, a PHB spokesperson confirmed the plans for the trip but said nothing has been finalised yet.

"We have a budget every year. As for this one, we are still finalising it, nothing is firm yet. Usually we want to see some proposals first because we hire a travel agency," said Nadia Hadi, who heads PHB's corporate strategy department.

"We do not know the intentions of the person who gave this information. We have not made any payment yet."

Nadia said "more than 100 employees" would usually take part in such programmes.

She said it was normal for companies to organise such events.

"We are government-linked but we are being run as a professional company so there is no waste," she added.

'Pack your comfort wear, sunscreen'

However, emails from the company to employees seen by MalaysiaNow indicate that the Bali trip appears to be a done deal, with employees being told to get their passports and belongings ready.

"This retreat is PHB's way of showing appreciation for your hard work and dedication that have helped PHB excel in its business," reads an email to staff sighted by MalaysiaNow.

"Pack your comfort wear, sunscreen, and a sense of adventure!"

Just last week, PHB's Sports and Recreation Club organised another all-expense paid trip to Port Dickson, where employees spent three days at the five-star Thistle Port Dickson Resort and took part beach activities, competitions and performances.

"Of course, apart from these recreational activities, there was also a CSR initiative such as the planting of about 500 mangroves," a source told MalaysiaNow.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself is the chairman of PHB's board of trustees.

In the 2024 budget, he announced that PHB would be placed under Yayasan Pelaburan Bumiputra (YPB), another Bumiputera powerhouse under the PMO.

PHB is one of more than 40 public-funded entities under the wing of the PMO. It is responsible for managing more than 20 assets worth about RM10 billion as well as Amanah Hartanah Bumiputera (AHB) unit trusts worth about RM5 billion for government clients such as Perbadanan Nasional Berhad, Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council and Permodalan Nasional Berhad.

In June, officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission visited PHB's offices in Shah Alam and spent three hours there as part of an investigation into complaints of financial mismanagement. Since then, there has been no new information.

Last week, MalaysiaNow revealed a plan by two Selangor government companies to hold their board meetings in Perth, Australia, where Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari will join directors and top executives for a four-day "retreat" from Aug 23.

One of the companies, Kumpulan Hartanah Selangor Berhad, defended the trip as part of a "technical delegation" to study the property sector.

The company had similarly claimed that the trip was still in the proposal stage and had yet to be approved by the board.