Ambiga: We will not forgive Pakatan if it decides against reforming GLCs

PETALING JAYA: Lawyer and activist Datuk S. Ambiga said that civil society organisations will not forgive the Pakatan Harapan-led government, should it decide not to reform government-linked companies (GLCs) as stated in its election manifesto pledge. 

Ambiga, in representing a coalition of 50 NGOs at a press conference on Thursday (Jan 24), said that although reforming GLCs isn’t going to be an easy task, the government should set up a task force because it is a pledge in its election manifesto during GE14. 

“Our request is very simple - set up a task force. I think we will be very unforgiving of Pakatan. We will not forgive a breach of this item in their manifesto because there is no reason that they cannot comply with it,” she said. 

The National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president acknowledged that there are certain pledges made in Pakatan’s manifesto that may be too challenging to carry out. 

“And we can forgive them for delaying some of these things. This (reforming GLCs), isn’t one of them,” she added. 

“The task force that we are asking for is something minimal. It can be done immediately and if they don’t do it, I would like an explanation form Pakatan - why can’t they fulfil this simple request we are making,” she said. 

In its election manifesto, Pakatan had promised to do away with political appointments for GLCs and similar agencies to depart from the culture espoused by Barisan Nasional. 

Earlier, Ambiga, along with several prominent civil society activists who include Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) senior fellow Dr Edmund Terence Gomez, G25 founding member Tan Sri Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kassim and Gabungan Pembebasan Akademik representative Azura Nasron, had announced the formation of the GLC Reform Cluster. 

The GLC Reform Cluster consisted of 50 NGOs including Ideas, C4, G25, Hakam, Gabungan Pembebasan Akademik, the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham), among others. 

At the press conference, Dr Gomez, echoed similar sentiments as Ambiga, saying that Pakatan’s election manifesto clearly stated that politicians cannot serve as directors in GLCs.  

“Barely nine months in power, Pakatan members are appointing party members into GLCs. It’s becoming a problem and they are justifying it. 

“If they are going against the very words that they put in their manifesto, this is serious backtracking and we are very concerned,” he said. 

“Why is Pakatan not following their own manifesto?” he questioned. 

Gabriel added that more political appointments into GLCs were being done without any form of transparency. 

“All we know is that the old guards are being removed. But now, they are being replaced with another set of their people.

“It is also a conflict of interest, because how do we as citizens trust that these new appointees can carry out their jobs when safeguards are not put in place?” she said. 

“This is where political appointments become dangerous. We would like to see who is capable, and not somebody’s wife who is connected to power gets to sit on GLCs,” she added. 

Recently, Pakatan had come under public scrutiny over its political appointments into top GLC positions.  

Among them were Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s political secretary Abu Bakar Yahya’s wife Datuk Junaidah Kiting, who was appointed Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) chair. 

Others include Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad’s daughter Nurul Iman Dzulkefly, who was appointed AIM board member, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi as Mara Corporation Sdn Bhd chairman.