FOUR Social Security Organisation (Socso) board members have been removed, said sources as the Perikatan Nasional government continues to remove people appointed by the previous administration. 

The Malaysian Insight has reliably learnt that the four are Andrew Lo, Yong Hee Kong, Wee Hock Kee, and Japar Abd Majid.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight the four received a written notice from the human resources minister informing them of their termination as board members last week.

The termination comes into effect on June 15.

Lo sits on the board as a representative of the Sarawak Malaysian Trades Union Congress while Wee is the founder and chairman of CG Board Asia.

Yong is senior adviser at Singapore-based Asean Advisory Pte Ltd of Zico Advisory.

Little is known about Japar. 

However, no official reason was given by the ministry for the move.

The Malaysian Insight has contacted Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan for comments.

It is learnt that Saravanan will present appointment letters to new representatives tomorrow.

The workers fund has 14 board members, including three representatives from the Human Resources, Finance and Health Ministries.

Human Resources Ministry secretary-general Amir Omar currently serves as acting chairman of Socso.

This is the latest in the slew of shakeups in agencies under the Human Resources Ministry. 

Soon after taking over, Saravanan appointed businessman Shahul Hameed Dawood as the new chief executive officer of the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF). Shahul replaced Elanjelian Venugopal whose term was to expire in July.

He said Shahul Hameed had the interest of Indians at heart and would not turn his back on them as HRDF CEO.

He said this to deflect criticism against his appointment of My Events International founder Shahul Hameed to the position.

Critics have pointed out that Shahul Hameed was linked to controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik.

Saravanan also removed HRDF chairman Noor Farida Ariffin and four other board members effective April 1.

Elanjelian’s term as CEO was set to expire in July this year, while Noor Farida’s contract was supposed to end in January next year. – June 14, 2020.