After 1-year vacancy, Bashir Ahmad appointed as MRT Corp chairman

Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid takes over as MRT Corp chairman effective today.

PETALING JAYA: Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has appointed Bashir Ahmad Abdul Majid as its chairman, effective today, after the position had been left vacant for nearly a year.

Previously, then chairman Azhar Abdul Hamid stepped down on March 7, 2022, after barely 10 months into the role, because of a “difference of opinion” over the implementation of the Mass Rapid Transit 3 (MRT3) Circle Line project.

Bashir is well known within the aviation circles due to his tenure as one of the oldest-serving managing directors of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad from 2003 to 2014 and, subsequently, as an adviser until 2017.

He began his career in aviation as a Malaysia Airlines management trainee in 1972, and served the national carrier for 29 years, where he rose up the ranks as the airline’s executive vice-president.

Currently, he is also the regional adviser to the Airport Council World Governing Board and is a special adviser to the Airport Council Asia-Pacific regional board.

MRT Corp CEO Zarif Hashim welcomed Bashir to the board.

“As we consider future policies on public transport, their impact on the economy and the rakyat’s well-being, Bashir’s vast experience in responding to changing business models, economic regulatory affairs, and service delivery would come very handy to MRT Corp in supporting our mission to catalyse sustainability of cities and mobility of people,” said Zarif. - FMT