The Malaysian Insight

THE resignations are coming fast and furious, with reports now saying Mohammed Shazalli Ramly has resigned as chief executive officer of Telekom Malaysia.

There was an air of inevitability about this resignation and it had little to do with the fact that shares of the telco have fallen about 43% over the past 12 months.

Shazalli was Najib Razak’s image guru and played a pivotal role in Barisan Nasional’s branding at the 14^th general election. 

He was also instrumental in putting together a video of heads of government-linked companies performing Hebat Negaraku, which was also BN’s election slogan.

The sight of GLCs bosses campaigning openly for BN during the recent polls did not sit well with Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his government.

Shazalli’s supporters said he only contributed branding ideas and strategies but didn’t actively participate in campaigning for BN.

But the Pakatan Harapan government said otherwise.

Shazalli’s resignation, reported by Bloomberg, will just be one of many in the coming days and weeks. Heads of GLCs who either campaigned for Najib and BN, or who defended government policies in the run-up to the polls will be asked to leave.

Several of them who have gone before Daim Zainuddin and the Council of Eminent Persons know just by the tone of questions, that they should be seeking new jobs. – June 6, 2018.