Umno’s Tajuddin latest of 16 govt MPs appointed to head GLCs

Aminah Farid Ragananthini Vethasalam Aminah Farid, Ragananthini Vethasalam Updated 6 years ago · Published on 13 May 2020 5:20PM · 8 Comments

Tajuddin Abdul Rahman will become the new chairman of Prasarana Malaysia in a move widely criticised by opposition figures as political patronage on the part of the Perikatan Nasional government. – Umno handout pic, May 13, 2020.

PASIR Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman is the latest Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmaker to have been appointed to a key position in a government-linked company (GLC), taking over as group chairman of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd.

In a statement today, the transport group’s board of directors said the appointment came into effect on May 11.

The Umno Supreme Council member is replacing former chief judge of Malaya, Zaharah Ibrahim, who relinquished her position on May 7.

“The board and the management of Prasarana Group has full confidence on the integrity and leadership of Tajuddin in steering the programme mandated to us to transform the Malaysian public transport system to world class standards,” the board said.

The board also thanked Zaharah for her service to the company.

Tajuddin, who is a former chairman of Felcra, has also served as group managing director of United Assembly (Services) Sdn Bhd, United Straits Fuso Sdn Bhd, Automotive Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd and United Cycles Sdn Bhd.

His other corporate experience includes appointments as director at the Perak State Agricultural Development Corporation, Asia Brands Corp Bhd and Maju Perak Holdings Berhad.

Alongside Tajuddin, there are now 16 backbenchers who have been appointed to helm GLCs and statutory bodies.

Currently, the list of appointments includes eight MPs from Umno, four from PAS, and three from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Last month, PAS secretary–general and law minister Takiyuddin Hassan proposed that all MPs who had yet to hold positions in government be made heads of GLCs and government agencies.

The Kota Baru MP said he was informed that all PN lawmakers would be given positions.

The list of MPs appointed as chairman of GLCs and statutory bodies are:

Mahdzir Khalid (Umno) – Tenaga Nasional Berhad

Ahmad Jazlan Yaakob (Umno) – Malaysian Palm Oil Board

Ahmad Nazlan Idris (Umno) – Malaysian Rubber Board

Mohd Salim Shariff (Umno) – Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority

Tajuddin Rahman (Umno) – Prasarana Malaysia

Ramli Mohd Nor (Umno) – AmanahRaya

Jalaluddin Alias (Umno) – UDA Holdings

Hasbullah Osman (Umno) – Syarikat Perumahan Negara

Ahmad Fadhil Shaari (PAS) – Skills Development Fund Corporation

Nik Mohamed (PAS) – Lembaga Kemajuan Kelantan Selatan

Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PAS) – Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara

Che Alias Hamid (PAS) – Kemaman Port Authority

Nik Muhammaed Zawawi (PAS) – Farmers’ Organisation Authority

Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS) – Construction Industry Development Board

Wilson Kumbong (GPS) – National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

Lukanisman Saudi (GPS) – Sustainable Energy Development Authority

Former education minister and Bersatu MP Dr Maszlee Malik rejected his appointment as Mara Corp advisory committee chairman, which was supposed to commence on May 15.

Aside from MPs, other appointments seen as political include MCA vice president Tan Teik Cheng heading the Penang Port Commission and Senator Razali Idris similarly heading the Development Authority of Terengannu Tengah.

Meanwhile, notable corporate figure and former cabinet minister Abdul Wahid Omar has been appointed as the non-executive chairman of Bursa Malaysia Bhd.

Wahid who once served as the President and CEO of the Malayan Banking Group, was also the minister in the prime minister’s department in charge of Economic Planning from May 2009 to June 2013

While the government has not disclosed the total number of GLCs it owns, a report by think-tank Ideas Malaysia found that there are 71 listed GLCs in 2017.

However, this number does not include unlisted companies that are controlled by the government through majority shareholding or golden shares.

These appointments have been criticised by various parties as a form of political rewards and patronage. – May 13, 2020.

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Comments

  • This is how our country will end up 2MDB

    Posted 6 years ago by Sam SamaSama · Reply

  • Malaysia mampus!

    Posted 6 years ago by Swaminaidu Venkatasamy · Reply

  • Crazy.

    Posted 6 years ago by Zarul MA · Reply

  • Lagi menyalak la!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Lan Lan · Reply

  • Foul mouthed and corrupt gangster being rewarded with this appointment gives Moohydin a bad image and should give the electorate a good reason to vote out these crooked and immoral crooks at the the next general elections.

    Posted 6 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • It's crazy to think political leaders have so much time to run corporate companies. Why not just focus on serving the people? Isn't that what you aspire to do in being an MP?

    Posted 6 years ago by CS Lee · Reply

  • Make noise only then can get a chairmanship. What a sight. These dedak suckers really no shame

    Posted 6 years ago by Chua Kok Soon · Reply

  • Sickening and sad state of politics in our country.

    Posted 6 years ago by Brian Narayanan · Reply