Sime Darby appoints former Indonesian minister as director

In the last financial year, Indonesia accounted for 13.5% of the Sime Darby group

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Bhd has appointed Indonesia’s former Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi as director effective Nov 24.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the diversified multinational company said Muhammad, 46, first joined the Indonesian government in 2005 when he was appointed as chairman of the Indonesia Coordinating Board of Investment by the country’s former president.

He served in that capacity until 2009 and became the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan and the Federated States of Micronesia in 2010.

Muhammad became the Trade Minister last year after the conclusion of his term as Indonesian ambassador in 2013. He retired as minister in October 2014.

Indonesia accounted for 13.5% of the Sime Darby group’s profit before interest and tax for the financial year ended June 30, 2015, the second largest contributor after Malaysia (62.9%) in geographical terms. The group employs more than 30,000 people in the republic.

Sime Darby has operations in 26 countries and four territories, according to its latest annual report.

Sime Darby shares shed 2 sen to close at RM7.98 on Tuesday,