No excuse for not reforming GLCs, govt told

Nabihah Hamid Nabihah Hamid Updated 7 years ago · Published on 24 Jan 2019 5:19PM · 1 Comments

Lawyer Ambiga Sreenevasan says the public cannot accept Pakatan Harapan's failure to reform government-linked companies as promised in its manifesto. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, January 24, 2019.

PAKATAN Harapan has no excuse not to fulfil its pledge to reform government linked companies’ administrations, including stamping out the appointment of individuals with political connections.

Former president of the Malaysian Bar Ambiga Sreenevasan said the people could not accept PH’s failure to reform GLCs as promised in its manifesto.

The prominent lawyer said the government’s delay in fulfilling parts of its election manifesto was understandable, but it was not hard to reform GLCs.

“Reforming GLCs is not a tough task. It is easy and can be done immediately. We will not forgive the government if this carries on.

“There is no reason why they can’t do this,” said Ambiga after a forum on reforming GLCs after the 14th general election.

Another speaker, Edmund Terence Gomez of Universiti Malaya, said that cronyism and nepotism have no place in modern society.

“This cannot be accepted at all. They are suddenly giving us reasons, saying companies are not GLC-linked and so on,” he said.

The academic was referring to Bersatu’s Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who after being named the National Higher Education Fund Corporation chairman, said the body is not a GLC.

Edmund Terence Gomez from the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs says that he and other quarters have contacted Putrajaya for an explanation. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, January 24, 2019.

Gomez said that he and other quarters have contacted Putrajaya for an explanation.

“We have received feedback and discussed the matter. They have listened. Today, we will have a discussion at the Prime Minister’s Office,” he said.

Gomez urged for an independent committee to be established to monitor GLCs.

“Our task is to help and cooperate with the government. We want an independent committee to be established.

“We are facing a complex issue. We need to educate the public about GLCs.” – January 24, 2019.

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Comments

  • If only it were so simple to reform huge organizations. FIrstly, you need to find competent people who would be willing to take up the challenge of "reforming" these GLCs. Secondly, need to define what is the meaning of reform. Then the whole organization needs to be set on a new path, employees need to buy into the vision. At the same time there will be others within and without who will fight and even sabotage the efforts.
    It's so hard to change/ improve even a small SME. Change in organizations doesn't happen by decree, it happens by degrees. And every step of the way the change and direction has to be monitored and controlled. I wish it was so easy to reform. Theoretically, it sounds so simple; but this is the national economy and individuals rice bowls at stake. Also, this new government still getting to grips with the new model (whatever that is). Give them space and time, they may get it right or they may not.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lawman will · Reply