Isa, BN appointees in Transport Ministry told to go

PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) political appointees within the Transport Ministry and various port authorities along with Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad have been asked to resign from their respective posts within seven days, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

“His (Isa) position is untenable. As a former minister, he should do the honorable thing.

“Emulate Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, who resigned honorably from his post in Felda,” he told reporters at the ministry yesterday.

In streamlining SPAD’s functions into the Transport Ministry, Loke said the matter will take time as the ministry plans to repeal the Suruhanjaya Pengangkutan Awam Darat Act 2010 (SPAD).

“We will repeal the laws when the Dewan Rakyat convenes and disband SPAD.

“For now, we will let SPAD carry out its work and functions under the ministry’s supervision,” he said.

Loke also called on those holding positions in the board of directors in port authorities, who were appointed by the minister in the Barisan Nasional Cabinet to step down within the same time frame.

“I am not going to humiliate anyone by naming names and calling them out.

“They should do the honorable thing and resign.”

On the search for the missing flight MH370 by search vessel Ocean Infinity, Loke said the ministry has allowed the search to be extended until May 29 on the same basis of “no cure no pay” as implemented by the previous government.

“Following the Cabinet meeting earlier, we have agreed for the vessel to extend its search and hope that they will be able to recover the wreckage in the given time,” he said.

However, Loke stressed that potential decisions on further extensions will only be considered after the deadline.

“The government will review all possible agreements regarding the search for the missing aircraft,” he added.

Meanwhile, the government has been urged to investigate the possibility that records related to MH370 had been falsified or omitted.

In an open letter yesterday, Voice 370 – a support group for MH370 next-of-kin – said Malaysia should be more open to sharing MH370-related information with international bodies and agencies.