Willie: Appointments of MTC Board of Trustees members in accordance with regulations
KUCHING: Appointments of the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) Board of Trustees members and its chief executive officer (CEO) are in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of Association of MTC as well as the Companies Act 2016, according to Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Willie Mongin.
He said Article 11 (a), Memorandum and Articles of Association of Malaysian Timber Council ( MTC) outlined that the minister shall appoint not less than three and not more than 14 members of the Board of Trustees.
He said the minister so far had only appointed seven additional members of the Board of Trustees, which means it was still subject to the total number authorised by the Articles of Association of MTC.
“The appointment of seven additional Board of Trustees members makes the total number of appointments to 14 people.
“This 14 also includes the appointment of the chairman, the representatives of the associations and industries as well as individual representatives,” he said when replying to a question from Seputeh MP Teresa Kok in Parliament yesterday.
Willie said under Article 23 of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of MTC, the appointment of the new MTC CEO is under the authority of the Board of Trustees members but it must be first approved by the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC).
He said the process of appointment of director general/ CEO was done through the Selection Committee, which was also in accordance with the guidelines used by all agencies and councils under the MPIC.
“The appointment of the MTC CEO from a different background other than timber is not the first time because it has been done before.
“The new CEO with different background can provide new perspective to MTC in carrying out its functions and roles,” he said.
Willie also clarified that the backdated appointments of several Board of Trustees members did not contradict any article or the appointment procedure set out under the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Malaysian Timber Council (MTC).
He said in this matter, the minister has absolute power to determine appointment of all MTC’s Board of Trustees members including the date of appointment provided the date of such appointment does not exceed a period of two years.
He said letters and certificates of appointment of all MTC Board of Trustees members were also submitted to the Malaysian Companies Commission to ensure the appointments are made in accordance with and comply with the rules set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of MTC.