No political appointments at listed GLCs, says Loke

There are no political appointments at government-linked companies (GLC) listed in Bursa Malaysia under the coalition government, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said yesterday.

Loke, who is also the transport minister, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had informed him that he did not intend to appoint politicians to any such companies.

He also said that most politicians appointed today were not at GLCs but instead appointed to statutory bodies. 

"In terms of the appointment of politicians, we separate between statutory bodies and GLCs. 

"We do not agree to putting politicians at GLCs listed in Bursa Malaysia such Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd.

"Those appointed now are not at such companies, but at statutory bodies, authorities and so on. They are regulatory bodies and do not involve business and so on," he said at a press conference in Klang. 

Loke said his ministry had also retained the services of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd chairman Jamaludin Ibrahim, who was a professional, and would not appoint politicians in the company.

"So is MAHB. There are no political appointments at MAHB. This is clear. If in the past administration, you know who the Prasarana chairman was. Now, who is Prasana chairman?

"So there are no political appointments at key GLCs such as Prasarana, MAHB, TM and so on. I am confident that the policy will continue to be maintained by the Prime Minister," he said.

He was responding to questions on political appointments involving Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Umno politicians following PH's past criticism of the matter.