Is It a News Propaganda? I Was Not Sacked

Below is a full article, written by a journalist, GORETHY KENNETH whose integrity has been questioned by the public for various political stories and issues of national importance she covered recently. 

It was also known that she has been associating with Susan Merel, a woman journalist who has been in hot waters many times by her political reportings and deep involvement in PNG's political arena. 

The article below is a response to an earlier article she wrote regarding the sacking of the KCHL boss, Thomas Abe and the reasons she highlighted as 4 Million Kina hike in the CEO Abe's annual pay include: Also included in the contract were:

 *The employee and spouse are entitled to one business class return travel a year to Brisbane;

 *Club membership: KCH shall pay for the membership and renewal of two social or recreational clubs in Port Moresby and two professional memberships;

 *Accommodation: KCH shall pay security bond and rental up to K30,000 a month paid directly to the landlord on a monthly basis for a suitable, furnished and secure accommodation. KCH will meet the cost of utilities on behalf of the employee;

 *School fees: School fee applies to children above preschool and under the age of 18 years to a limit of K200,000;

 *KCH will remit 15 percent and employee 7.5 percent of base salary for employees superannuation contribution to the nominated super fund after three months of his employment. Employee can choose to increase his voluntary contribution beyond 7.5 percent, but this shall not exceed 15 percent;

 *Domestic servant: A domestic servant allowance shall be paid up to a maximum of K7500 a year against which the employee may claim wages paid to a domestic servant;

 *Telephone allowance: The employee is entitled to a non-accountable telephone allowance of K18,750 a year for the private phone use; and

 *Entertainment allowance: The employee shall receive a non-accountable reimbursement of private entertainment expenses of up to K25,000 a year.

However, many people as the CEO himself, believe this article was published without further investigation and further background and lack credibility. They believe, the article was written by someone else in collaboration with Gorethy Kenneth. However, the truth is only known by the author. 

BY GORETHY KENNETH | 5 October 2017

Sacked Kumul Consolidated Holdings boss Thomas Abe has denied he was sacked for drawing up his own contract.

He said yesterday he is now taking legal action on the paper and the reporter for tarnishing his name.

Kumul Consolidated Holdings chairman Paul Nerau has also defended Mr Abe,saying the information published in Post-Courier were misleading. He is also seeking legal advice to sue the reporter and Post-Courier, saying that the facts as reported were all wrong.

However, both refused to confirm or deny the amount contained in the contract.

Mr Nerau refused to confirm that Mr Abe’s total remuneration package was K4 million and both said the figures were totally incorrect. “KCH Board, the legal and HR team, Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, have all the facts and report. When NEC decided to revoke my appointment, it had nothing to do with my contract or my performance.

“It was purely political. The contract has been secretly released recently after the NEC decision was made, and upon my departure by those who have the motive of discrediting and tarnishing my name, board of KCH and positive work achieved in the last seven months,” Mr Abe said.

In relation to his contract, he said: “Because of gross mismanagement and bad experience with previous management bypassing processes, I was not involved in the decision-making process of my contract. It was handled by the board, HR, subcommittee, Deloitte, both external and internal lawyers and finally approved by KCH board. It was all done transparently unlike the previous contract of the former MD. My reputation is all I have, and I will be seeking legal advice with a view to suing the Post-Courier, the reporter and individuals in KCH, who released my confidential contract from KCH,” he said.

“Without any recourse to prior consultation in order to verify vital facts or issues pertaining to my contract, the Post-Courier proceeded to publish such unfounded facts which are blatantly misleading and highly defamatory of my good character and integrity,” he said.

Chairman Nerau said that everybody that is working at KCH has gone through the legal and due process singling out that he has gone through three MDs who have also gone through the same process.

“I am now seeking legal advice to sue you personally and the Post-Courier because the facts are all wrong …,” he said.

“You are giving false information and peoples’ integrity are being put to question. Your reasons are all wrong. I have my reputation for over 40 years and you are making me look like I am a crook.”

“Your facts are all wrong and you make yourself very cheap, my wantok. Yes, I am a very busy man, I travel between places and you could have written a letter to me. Now you are affecting people’s lives . You know what you’ve done to KCH? We’ve got K1.8 billion that went to NEC and you are trying to tell the world that we are not capable of looking after the interest of this country, that’s what you are trying to tell them.

“The facts are wrong, misleading information and you are not fair to the public. You don’t call me, you don’t text, this is an organisation, you should write, put it in black and white to the office and we will deal with it, that’s the proper thing to do. I already sent a text to the PM, to the Deputy PM that this is misleading,” he said.