RAIS Hussin Mohamed Ariff has resigned as chairman of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Rais said he chaired his last board of directors’ meeting today and had informed the Finance Ministry of his decision to relinquish his role in mid-August.

“I have communicated my desire to resign to the Minister of Finance in mid-August 2021, while I reiterated the same to the new Minister of Communications and Multimedia Annuar Musa in early September.

“Tan Sri Annuar listened attentively and understood my desire to resign,” Rais said in a statement.

Rais was in the news recently when he came under fire after six shipping associations slammed him for his personal attack against Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong on the cabotage issue.

Rais had referred to Wee as a “minister with an IQ of a cabbage” in a tweet.

The associations criticised Rais over his personal attack on Wee, which they deemed as inappropriate.

He had criticised the government’s decision to withdraw the cabotage exemption for foreign vessels carrying out undersea cable maintenance, and had also said that Wee should not be discussing the issue.

In his statement today, Rais described his journey in MDEC as being very intense and an enriching one, given that the agency is critical in driving the digital economy of the nation.

He said much work has been done in reinventing the organisation, its board and management structure and governance and integrity, among others.
  
“I have been vocal in many ways driving these changes – listening to various stakeholders, particularly the industry and the people in charting out the digital economy – as time is of immense essence.
 
“I have been blessed with very active board members from various strata of skills, knowledge and experience that helped drive these changes. I was also ably complemented by the then CEO, Surina Shukri. Continuous improvement must be the way going forward.”
 
“It is critical that the board must be allowed the necessary latitude and independence to do the right thing. The fiduciary responsibility that comes with (the job) demands so. The board of directors cannot and must not be a rubber stamp for anyone – be it the shareholder ministry or the supervisory ministry,” he said.

Rais said fiduciary responsibilities require the board members to stay independent, objective, responsible, honest, trustworthy and efficient.

As stewards of public trust, they must always act for the good of the organisation that they represent, he added.

“MDEC is a very critical agency that requires utmost attention and empowerment. It cannot be treated as a mere project management or event management company. Neither can it be vendor-driven. It has a bigger and more important role in charting the digital economy of the nation.”
 
“The epidemic has shown that how important and critical digital economy is. It is present in all spheres of human existence. This will only grow in months and years to come and with greater intensity,” he said.
 
Rais said he has never compromised his principles in performing his duties,   even when very difficult and unpopular but right decisions had to be made.

“It would have been much easier to just ‘follow’ instructions from the shareholder ministry and/or the supervisory ministry, but that would (result) in a huge battle of conscience.

“I have always believed in doing the right thing, anchored on the right principles. Anything less will have crossed the red lines that I have drawn for myself,” he said.

He advised his colleagues to always do the right thing and stick to the right principles.
 
“GLC (government-linked corporations) reforms must take place as credibly as they can be, as soon as can be, without political or other forms of interference. GLCs are, after all, funded by the people’s money,” he added.
 
Rais was appointed as chairman of MDEC, succeeding Mathialakan Chelliah on June 15, 2020, for a period of two years. – October 6, 2021.