Ministers confident M’sians will head GLCs

There are many local talents who can be appointed to head government-linked companies such as Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB), say two Cabinet ministers.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng believe the two positions, which are vacant, will be filled by Malaysians.

Loke said the two companies operated the country’s strategic assets.

“These are important transport operators. As far as the government is concerned, we are sure the two CEO positions will be filled by locals,” he said when asked if there was a possibility of foreigners being appointed to head the companies.

Both ministers were present to witness the signing of a supplemental agreement to the project delivery partner agreement for the Sungai Buloh-Serdang-Putrajaya MRT project (MRT2 or SSP Line) between Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd and MMC Gamuda KVMRT (PDP SSP) Sdn Bhd at the Finance Ministry here yesterday.

Lim also expressed the same confidence, saying that Malaysia has enough talents.

“We have enough professionals to do it. The only thing is to headhunt the right person,” he added.

On Jan 6, MAHB announced to Bursa Malaysia that its group CEO Raja Azmi Raja Nazuddin had decided to leave his post to pursue other opportunities.

On Jan 7, the media reported that Prasarana president and chief executive officer Datuk Mohamed Hazlan Mohamed Hussain had been suspended from his post by the Prasarana board.

Loke said the boards of Prasarana and MAHB had yet to submit their recommendations.

He said the boards of the two GLCs had to make the recommendations to the Finance Minister Incorporated for the minister to make the appointments.

Asked if he has the list of potential candidates, Loke said: “The list will have to come from the board(s). They have to recommend.”