OK to have political appointees in statutory bodies but not GLCs, says Loke

KLANG: Political appointments in statutory bodies should not be a problem as this has been practised before, says Anthony Loke.

The DAP secretary-general said in view of this, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should be given some leeway in the matter.

However, he stressed that Pakatan Harapan was against political appointments in government-linked companies (GLC).

“We don’t agree with appointing politicians in GLCs or (public-listed) companies.

“In fact, the Prime Minister himself would not (make such appointments),” he told reporters after launching the Selangor DAP annual convention here on Sunday (March 26).

Loke, who is Transport Minister, said he was also against political appointments in companies under his ministry such as Prasarana and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB).

“We will not appoint politicians as chairmen (of those companies).

“During previous administrations, there might have been political appointments in Prasarana but no longer,” he said.

Politicians recently appointed to chair statutory bodies include Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (Mara), Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Felcra) and Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (Risda).