Political economist Edmund Terence Gomez has voiced serious concern over Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s appointment as Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairperson.
Labelling the Umno secretary-general’s appointment “wrong”, Gomez questioned if it was a politically motivated move ahead of the upcoming state elections.
“You cannot take an Umno politician and put them in one of the most important government-linked companies (GLCs).
“This GLC has important roots right down into the grassroots, and with the impending state elections, this raises a red flag on whether this was done in good faith or for political reasons,” he said during a panel session titled ‘Corruption as an Economic Problem’ in Universiti Malaya today.
Asyraf’s appointment came into effect on March 10 but Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi only made the announcement two days later.
Mara is an agency under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry which Zahid also helms.
Meanwhile, Gomez maintained that political GLC appointments were an avenue for abuse of power.
He, however, questioned if this abuse could be construed as corruption given that there is no legislation to be used as a basis for it.
"There needs to be a proper assessment of the entire GLC system, including appointments to these boards and making proper recommendations. Why haven't we moved in that direction?" he asked.
However, Gomez noted that political appointments could be considered for some GLCs, such as Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was appointed as Khazanah Nasional chairperson on Jan 3.
Other recent political appointees to GLCs include Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub as Felcra Berhad chairperson, former Amanah vice-president Husam Musa as Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) chairperson, and deputy Penang PKR chief Bakhtiar Wan Chik as MyCreative Ventures chairperson. - Mkini
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