Cameron Highlands MP among those tipped for GLC appointments

Several more MPs, including Cameron Highlands' Ramli Mohd Nor, have purportedly been appointed to government-linked companies.

However, when contacted by Malaysiakini, Ramli said he had yet to receive the letter of appointment.

According to the letter of appointment sighted by Malaysiakini, Ramli is supposed to be appointed as the non-executive director of trustee company Amanah Raya Bhd.

Also circulated was the purported appointment letter of Jelebu MP Jalaluddin Alias (photo) as a non-executive chairperson of UDA Holdings, the holding company that oversees urban development projects related to business, industry and housing.

Additionally, another letter indicated Gerik MP Hasbullah Osman is due to be appointed to the non-executive chairperson role at Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd for a two-year period.

Copies of all three letters were sighted by Malaysiakini and dated May 5 and bore the signature of Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

Ramli told Malaysiakini: "I have not received anything (neither a call nor a letter) on this matter.

"The (finance) minister is the one who releases (this letter) but I don't know anything about it. At this moment I have not received any letters, just outsiders trying to create a disturbance."

Attempts by Malaysiakini to confirm this with the other MPs and the finance minister have yet to be responded to.

Deputy Finance Minister Mohd Shahar Abdullah also denied any knowledge of the appointments.

"I, too, have not been informed about the appointments of the GLC chairpersons," he said when contacted by Malaysiakini.

All three are Umno MPs and such appointments would be in line with a spate of political appointments to government-linked companies in the run-up to the May 18 Parliament sitting.

Yesterday, the appointments of Umno MPs Mahdzir Khalid (Padang Terap) and Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak) as Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairperson and Prasarana chairperson respectively were confirmed.

Also yesterday, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof confirmed that he had accepted a motion of no-confidence against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin which was submitted by ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The appointment letters sighted by Malaysiakini were dated May 5, a day after Mahathir submitted his motion to the Parliament speaker.

Earlier today, Bersatu's Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik said he had turned down an appointment as a lead adviser to Mara Corp, the business arm of Majlis Amanah Raya (Mara).

"I take note news linking my name with an appointment to a government agency.

"I believe any appointment is a mandate from the people and should be returned to the people. - Mkini