MALAYSIA’S new chief justice Md Raus Sharif and national police chief Khalid Abu Bakar are expected to have their tenure extended up to two years to ensure continuity as the ruling Barisan Nasional faces elections by August 2018.
The Malaysian Insight understands that Raus, who was made the chief justice on April 1, will be extended as he has reached the age limit of 66. His tenure as a judge was extended by six months late last year.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid, who has served since May 2013, will reach the mandatory retirement age of 60 this September but is expected to have his tenure extended by up to two years.
“The government wants continuity,” a Putrajaya source told The Malaysian Insight.
“There has been some speculation of changes but Prime Minister Najib Razak is a cautious man and will not take unnecessary risk especially in administration,” he said.
Both Raus and Khalid are seen as steady hands to helm the judiciary and police, said Putrajaya officials.
“You need the best hands on deck in times of possible change,” one official said.
There has been a raft of speculation about changes in top civil servant posts in Putrajaya and also in several government-linked companies before the PM calls for the 14th general election (GE14) by next year.
Several GLC chiefs are also expected to pave way for younger faces with Telekom Malaysia Bhd announcing its chief executive officer Zamzamzairani Mohd Isa, 56, being replaced on May 1 with Mohammed Shazalli Ramly, 55.
No other appointments have been made yet but Putrajaya sources said the PM will not rush into any changes unless necessary before GE14.
Najib has recently said he can call for polls any time before his mandate expires but will only do so after he deems his the BN election machinery ready for GE14.
Investment bank CLSA’s equity strategist Christopher Wood has been quoted as saying that Najib is safe to call for a general election as the economy reels on its latest performances.
Wood is confident about Najib and the 1MDB scandal dying off, saying “with the Chinese buying the main 1MDB assets last year, the red ink stemming from the pseudo-sovereign wealth fund has been halted.
“Indeed, his position politically looks much more secure than was the case one year ago even if it is the case that former Malaysian prime minister and Umno firebrand (Dr) Mahathir Mohamad joined the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan in December,” Wood was quoted as saying in Singapore’s theindependent.sg news portal.
– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
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