Pas: Dr M’s appointment contradicts PH’s pledge

KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as Khazanah Nasional Bhd chairman is contrary to Pakatan Harapan’s previous intention that it wanted to ensure there was no political intervention in government-linked companies (GLCs).

Pas information chief Nasrudin Hassan said PH should look at its 22nd pledge in its manifesto, which underlined its intentions to ensure the administration of GLCs and government-owned companies would be of international standards.

He said the pledge stated that the appointment of GLC board members would be from among professionals and not based on political ties.

“PH should realise that it had been against the centralisation of power under the prime minister to the point of being able to manipulate the nation’s most important institutions.

“That was why PH had suggested that the prime minister’s tenure be limited to two terms and that he should not be allowed to hold any other portfolio, especially that of finance minister.

“Khazanah Nasional is under the Ministry of Finance Incorporated,” he said.

On Monday, the Prime Minister’s Office had announced that Dr Mahathir was appointed Khazanah Nasional chairman, effective immediately.

It announced Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali’s appointment as a member of the board, along with Council of Eminent Persons member Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican, former Bank Negara Malaysia Bhd deputy governor Dr Sukhdave Singh and Maybank Asset Management Group Bhd chairman Goh Ching Yin.

Nasrudin said having the prime minister as Khazanah Nasional chairman flew in the face of the very administrative principle that PH had warned against, proving that the coalition was no different from Barisan Nasional.

“The Federal Government should look instead at more transparent administrative practices, such as those outlines by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.”