KOTA BARU: THE appointment of department directors to the board of state government-linked companies (GLCs) is nothing new and is a non-issue.
The officers are appointed to provide advice in the implementation of projects, said Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.
He said it was normal for federal officers, including department directors, to be appointed as board members of GLCs.
“It has been the practice since Barisan Nasional was in charge of the state and it is a non-issue,” he said yesterday.
Amar was commenting on a Facebook post by lawyer and Orang Asli activist Siti Kassim on the presence of state forestry director Zahari Ibrahim on Kumpulan Perkayuan K’s (KPK) board of directors.
She said even if the company belonged to the Kelantan government, it was inappropriate for a director from the forestry department to be involved with a logging company.
Amar said KPK was a state subsidiary and GLC, and was doing business on the state government’s behalf.
“If the forestry director is not on the board, who then will advise KPK on regulations and other matters?
“We are looking after the state government’s interest. There is nothing for us, no share or allowance. In the case of the forestry director, KPK is not a private company. If it is, then they can dispute it.”
State Secretary Datuk Mohd Faudzi Che Mamat said it was not wrong for Zahari to be appointed a board member of the company.
“I have also been appointed to the boards of state GLCs. We are all appointed to guard the government’s interests.”
Zahari said he has been appointed to KPK’s board for a while now.
“I am just a board member and not a shareholder. I am there to advise and monitor the GLC so that everything runs smoothly.”
Zahari said all decisions on logging were made in a state-level meeting chaired by Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob.