Chairman among bigwigs to quit MCMC

PUTRAJAYA: In the latest in government purges, four Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) bigwigs have vacated their posts.

Chairman Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie and chief operating officer Datuk Dr Mazlan Ismail join those no longer with the MCMC.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the four tendered their resignations on Monday.

The resignations will take effect on July 1. Gobind declined to comment on why they quit their posts.

“There are various reasons but I am not going to go into details now,” he said at his ministry’s Hari Raya open house here.

Gobind also said several candidates had been identified to take up the posts, adding: “We have interviewed a few people. We will announce the selected ones soon.”

He said the ministry was also considering separating the position of chairman and chief executive officer of MCMC.

In the past, Gobind had voiced his dissatisfaction with MCMC over its inefficiency in dealing with several cases of data breaches.

On another matter, he said a committee would be set up to look into a possible merger of state broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama).

“There have been several suggestions to transform RTM.

“Bernama will take over the news reporting aspect,” he said.

Soon after taking over as minister, Gobind had said that RTM would be given six months to undergo a transformation.

Gobind also said that RTM would be taking part in the World Cup 2018 final viewing party, which will be held in Desa Sentral in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur, on July 15.

The carnival, which will feature football personalities and artistes, is organised by Aset Kayamas Sdn Bhd.