Competent appointments replaced with ‘our people’, says Rafidah

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 9 Apr 2020 2:47PM · 8 Comments

Former minister Rafidah Aziz accuses the government of moving to replace senior figures in the GLCs and statutory bodies with people willing to toe the party line. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, April 9, 2020.

FORMER minister Rafidah Aziz has slammed the government over its decision to remove a number of people from government-linked companies and statutory bodies.

She said the decision of the government to swiftly replace these “political appointees” was absurd because it gave no reasons for the removals.

“No other reason was given, except that they were ‘political appointees’ and not evaluated according to their performance.

“The only excuse given was that, because ‘they were political appointees’ of the previous government, they must be replaced.

“And so, apply the ‘vested interest rule’... we want ‘our own’ people there… perhaps so they can do ‘our bidding’... especially when multimillion-ringgit budgets and contracts are in the picture?,” she said in her social media post today.

She added the new government led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin seemed to have forgotten the competency of those who were replaced, and the value they added to the nation.

She also said the new government’s clarion call seemed to be “we, party people, come first.”

Rafidah, who also revealed that she is recuperating from surgery for massive intestinal adhesions, added these people were all removed without notice or recourse to normal procedures.

She added one person was only given three hours to clear her office when she was working from home due to the movement control order.

She also said a number of people removed were women, reducing the female representation at top positions in government linked companies.

“I don’t see them as women per se. They are competent individuals who are professionals in their own right, who had their own good performance track records.

“It was a bonus that they happened to be women.”

In recent weeks, a number of heads of government agencies appointed by the former Pakatan Harapan (PH) government have been replaced, or have tendered their resignation.

These include experienced corporate figure Bakke Salleh who has been removed as chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Khazanah Research Institute chairman Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, Bank Rakyat Bhd chairwoman Noripah Kamso, Socso chairman Zakri Khir, Mara chairwoman Hasnita Hashim and Human Resource Development Fund chairwoman Noor Farida Ariffin.

Earlier today, former transport minister Anthony Loke said his two appointments to the board of Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia have been removed.

They were Time dotcom chairman Afzal Abdul Rahim and former Malaysian Bar chairman Ragunath Kesavan.

The new government has also sacked appointees from government entities like Mara, the Federal Territories Resident Representative Council and National Welfare Foundation. – April 9, 2020.

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Comments

  • We the people must remove this cancerous alliance of evil parties at the next heneral elections. May the voters not forget the misdeeds committed by the politicians who created this Backdoor government.

    Posted 4 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • This backdoor Govt has now pulled out every arteries from our bodies! Ministers are half baked often opening their mouth without thinking. Nothing concrete to show in their designated job scope but to play politics to secure their positions!!

    Posted 4 years ago by Witzi Leong · Reply

  • Backdoor government should not even survive half the term. Let's all stick together and remove it.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • Kesian DAP, opposition is always opposition.

    Posted 4 years ago by Ty Tiko · Reply

  • BN culture is back !

    Posted 4 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • BN culture is back !

    Posted 4 years ago by Wei Kuan Tan · Reply

  • Just as the country was back on track with really qualified people for the respective jobs and position, the back door govt is going to set us back again...

    Posted 4 years ago by Michael Chong · Reply

  • MALAYSIA IS CURSED From a beautifull multiracial country it is DOOMED TO SINK . Look for the CURSE N PLS REMOVE THE CURSE FROM MSIA So that Malaysia can ONCE AGAIN RISE WITH GLORY. REMOVE HATE PREACH BY SO CALLED RELIGIOUS MORONS.

    Posted 4 years ago by Lucky Boy · Reply