DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has come out to defend political appointments made by the administration, saying not all were to government-linked companies (GLCs).

He said Putrajaya’s critics have confused appointments to regulatory bodies with appointments to GLCs.

He said though the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government is keeping its promise not to appoint politicians to GLCs and Bursa Malaysia-listed companies, some leeway has been made for statutory and regulatory bodies.

“We give some flexibility to statutory bodies, like Felcra and port authorities, for example. These are positions that were previously filled by political appointees. 

“We give this flexibility to the prime minister to consider whom to appoint so party leaders at all levels can play their roles in helping the government,” he said, adding that the government makes clear distinction regarding appointments to key GLCs.

No politicians were appointed to positions in key GLCs like Telekom, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd, and Prasarana Malaysia Bhd under the current government, he was quoted as saying after the opening of the DAP Selangor convention in Klang today.

The Seremban MP said recent political appointments were not to GLCs, but to statutory bodies and regulatory agencies. 

“These entities are not involved in business ... there is a distinction,” he said. 

Social media has been abuzz with claims the PH government has not kept its promise not to appoint politicians to head GLCs.

Two weeks ago, former Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was appointed Majlis Amanah Rakyat chairman, and yesterday congratulatory messages appeared on social media for Parit Sulong MP Noraini Ahmad over her appointment to chair Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority, which is a federal agency. 

Others politicians appointed to statutory and regulatory bodies are Balik Pulau MP Bakhtiar Ahmad (chairman of MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd), Amanah deputy president former political secretary Ahmad Sabki Yusof (chairman of Companies Commission of Malaysia), and Amanah’s Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan (deputy chairman of Tekun Nasional, a government loan provider for Bumiputera entrepreneurs). – March 26, 2023.