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. – THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
Mahdzir threatens to sue anyone linking his TNB appointment to graft
ANYONE linking Mahdzir Khalid to corruption in relation to his Tenaga Nasional Bhd chairmanship will be sued for defamation, said his lawyer today.
“The unfounded statements and slanders brought against Mahdzir without proper understanding of the justice system is regrettable,” said Vignesh today in a statement.
“Our client has instructed us to file defamation action or any other action deemed necessary should there be anymore attempts to discredit or defame him.”
The lawyer appeared to be referring to a Facebook post by Bersatu’s Maszlee Malik.
Without naming Mahdzir, Maszlee said that “a character” who was involved in a solar project for schools in rural Sarawak had been given a position in a GLC which is “also related to energy”.
The solar project scandal came to light during the Pakatan Harapan administration and is currently the subject of a corruption trial involving the wife of former prime minister Najib Razak.
Rosmah is accused of receiving RM6.5 million in kickbacks from the project.
Maszlee was the education minister when the government was probing the affair.
Mahdzir, a key witness in the trial, had testified that he was pressured by Najib, Rosmah and her aide Rizal Mansor to approve the RM1.25 billion deal.
Vignesh said today that his client is not the accused in the case of the solar project.
“Having represented Mahdzir in the proceedings of this case, we would like to shed some light on his alleged involvement in the trial.
“His role in the trial of the bribery case was that of a witness. He was never charged nor was there any finding of guilt against him in this case.
“Despite knowing that his testimony in court would possibly be detrimental to his political career, he chose to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in furtherance of justice and to ensure that the real perpetrators would be brought to justice.
“Pursuant to that, he had given testimony as a prosecution witness for the MACC under oath in court in February 2020,” he said.
Vignesh did not say if Mahdzir would take legal action against Maszlee over his remarks.
TNB on May 8 announced the appointment of Umno vice-president Mahdzir as its chairman.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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