KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail opined that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to lead Khazanah Nasional Bhd as chairman of the board is aimed at improving the country’s economy.
“I think the Prime Minister has decided to manage (Khazanah) so that the economic level of this country can be improved,” she told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.
Dr Wan Azizah was commenting on the appointment, which took effect yesterday.
The Prime Minister’s Office also announced yesterday in a statement that Minister of Economic Affairs Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, former Petronas president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican, former deputy governor of Bank Negara Malaysia Dr Sukhdave Singh, and former executive director of strategy and development at the Securities Commission of Malaysia Goh Ching Yin have been appointed directors of the sovereign wealth fund.
Dr Wan Azizah said the appointment of Dr Mahathir and Mohamed Azmin did not contradict the Pakatan Harapan manifesto on reducing the power of the prime minister and that there would be no political appointments in government-linked companies.
Dr Wan Azizah said this was in line with Khazanah’s specialisation of bringing investments to the country.
Asked on whether the appointment was temporary, she said: “It depends on the Prime Minister and we will discuss this more in-depth.”
On the G25 Group urging Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa to resign, Dr Wan Azizah said it was just a view of the group.
However, she said, in general, civil servants, especially the administrative and diplomatic officers have been providing continuous support to the Pakatan Harapan government since it won the 14th General Election on May 9.--BERNAMA