BUTTERWORTH – Political appointees of the unity government are capable people with the necessary qualifications, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.
All appointments are made based on cabinet guidelines and on the advice of the prime minister, he said in defending recent appointments that included Umno leaders to helm Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) and Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).
“Don’t view it as just because someone has a political position, especially (if they are) MPs or assemblymen…their background, credentials and experience are also considered.
“This is something that has been done before, but we will not appoint any individual who cannot contribute to the organisation they lead,” Zahid said.
Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, was speaking after an official visit to the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) here today.
He then confirmed that Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki had been appointed the new Mara chairman. Asyraf had recently been made Umno secretary-general following the party’s election.
Zahid also confirmed that re-elected Wanita Umno chief and Parit Sulong MP Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad is the new Risda chairman.
Defending Asyraf’s appointment to Mara, Zahid said it was based on the former’s expertise, experience and credentials, including a PhD in Islamic banking.
“It’s a waste to have such experience and credentials if we don’t use it to develop Mara together. With the appointment, we hope that he and my ministry’s staff will be able to develop Mara,” Zahid said.
He also announced the appointment of former Penang Umno Youth head Datuk Sheikh Hussein Mydin as the new Perda chairman today.
Other political appointments made recently include Umno’s former Machang MP Datuk Jazlan Yaakub who was reappointed as Felcra chairman, and Pakatan Harapan’s Datuk Husam Musa as Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) chairman.
These appointments have received some criticism on social media, with detractors questioning if it meant that the unity government led by PH was any different from its predecessors.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke rebuffed critics earlier today, pointing out that such appointments were made only to statutory bodies, not government-linked companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. – The Vibes, March 26, 2023
