The Malaysian Insight

BY tomorrow, a number of high-profile chief executives, directors, chiefs and ambassadors will end their service as the Mahathir government completes purging political appointees from the Najib era.

Putrajaya has set the June 30 deadline to sweep clean remnants of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government although a few have asked for extensions to avoid the embarrassment of being fired. 

Among those ending their term include Tabung Haji chief executive Johan Abdullah, Tenaga Nasional Berhad chairman Leo Moggie and several directors and top officials from the utility. 

“Saturday is the deadline for the others who have yet to go. Some are asking for extensions pleading succession issues,” a source told The Malaysian Insight. 

“I guess they don’t want the ignominy of being fired so quickly,” he added, saying there has been representations to keep some of these executives. 

It is understood that the top officials of two government-linked investment companies (GLICs) are expected to step down as their replacements have already been identified. 

Several top bankers in GLC banks are also being asked to leave, a source added. 

Malaysia’s ambassador to Indonesia Zahrain Mohamad Hashim is among political appointees set to leave tomorrow. He was elected as Bayan Baru MP in the 2008 polls but left PKR to join Umno in 2010. Former prime minister Najib Razak made him ambassador after the 2013 general elections. 

Zahrain was conspicuously absent during Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s current visit to Jakarta.

A number of executives and top officials have already seen their contracts end without renewal while others have agreed to resign.

Among them are Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd chief executive Mohd Badlisham Ghazali and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission chairman Dr Halim Shafie, its chief operating officer Dr Mazlan Ismail and chief officer for network security, new media monitoring, compliance and advocacy Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi. 

Petronas chairman Mohd Sidek Hassan and non-executive director Omar Mustapha Ong also ended their stint at the national oil company this past week.  – June 29, 2018.