LETTER | G25 barking up the wrong tree on GLC appointments

LETTER | I am writing in response to G25’s concern over Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin’s remarks about political appointments into government-linked companies (GLCs).

Leaving aside the merits of political appointments into GLCs (that itself is a topic worthy of several PhD theses), G25 seems to be barking up the wrong tree over this issue.

As I understand, Muhyiddin (above) was talking in the context of the appointments should PN form the next government. In other words, he’s talking about something which has not happened yet.

But why isn’t G25 taking issue with political appointments that have already taken place? The current coalition government has made so many political appointments. The irony is that Pakatan Harapan, of which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is from, used to criticise political appointments in GLCs. Hypocrite much?

Several days ago, former Umno leader Shabery Cheek was appointed Felda chairperson. Earlier, Umno’s Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was made chairperson of Mara; former Kepala Batas MP Reezal Merican Naina Merican chairperson of Matrade; and Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub is chairperson of Felcra Bhd.

Meanwhile, PKR’s Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh is MDEC chairperson, PKR’s Balik Pulau MP Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik is chairperson of MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd under the Finance Ministry, and PKR’s former Kapar MP Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid is the chairperson of Tekun Nasional.

In Amanah, Faiz Fadzil has been appointed as the chairperson of the Fisheries Development Authority and Mahfuz Omar as chairperson of the Farmers’ Organisation Authority. Both are agencies under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry helmed by Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

There are many others who had been appointed by the current government. Why didn't G25 utter a word over these appointments that had already happened? Why kick up a fuss over Muhyiddin’s statement when he has not made any recent political appointments?

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