Boardroom changes at Utusan and Media Prima

PETALING JAYA: Utusan Melayu (M) Bhd has announced the resignation of three of its directors as part of the group’s overall restructuring plan.

In its filing with Bursa Malaysia, the Umno-owned media group said yesterday its non-executive chairman Tan Sri Mohamad Fatmi Che Salleh, and independent non-executive directors Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad and Jamalul Kiram Mohd Zakaria had voluntarily stepped down from their respective posts.

The boardroom change at Utusan followed the defeat of Umno and Barisan Nasional at the 14th general election on May 9.

“The board acknowledges the importance of complying with the Bursa Malaysia Listing Requirements in relation to the composition of independent directors on the board and will take the necessary steps to appoint new directors in due course,” Utusan said.

“In the meantime, the operations of Utusan will continue as normal,” it added.

In a separate announcement, Utusan said both Tengku Sariffuddin and Jamalul Kiram had also resigned from the group’s Nomination & Remuneration Committee.

Meanwhile, Media Prima Bhd announced in a news release yesterday that Datuk Seri Mohd Ashraf Abdullah would be ending his tenure as group managing editor of news and current affairs, Media Prima Television Networks (MPTN) effective May 20.

According to the media group, Ashraf had earlier informed the board and management of his intention to step down from his current post. He first joined Media Prima as group editor of TV3 in June 2009.

Datuk Manja Ismail, deputy group managing editor, news and current affairs, MPTN will assume the duties of the group managing editor, news and current affairs, MPTN with immediate effect, the statement said.