TENAGA Nasional Berhad chairman Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin found out that he had lost his job when he was overseas.
It came as a shock to him as there had been no indications that the contracts of political appointees in Federal statutory bodies (FSBs) and government-linked corporations (GLCs) would be terminated immediately.
He relayed his concerns of the instant sacking to senior Umno leaders, who are part of the unity government, asking for time to pack off and to hand over his corporate duties.
The directive, signed by Chief Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, to the secretaries-general of all ministries, has already raised eyebrows as it was leaked.
Hasan, a former Rompin MP and former Pahang deputy mentri besar, was appointed to the chairmanship in October 2021.
He is also the chairman of Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad, another post that he would lose.
Another big name is Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman.
He was the Terengganu MB and Besut MP.
PAS also has its share of appointments including Haji Abdullah Latiff Abdul Rahman, a PAS Kuala Krai MP who heads the government-owned Hotel Seri Malaysia chain as chairman.
Another PAS leader Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, who is the Pasir Mas MP, heads the Skill Development Fund Corporation, a federal statutory body under the Human Resources Ministry.
At the South Kelantan Development Authority (Kesedar), the board is led by Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz, who was the PAS MP for Bachok.
The list of political appointees from Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional in federal statutory bodies is lengthy, if not, exhaustive.
The Cabinet decision on Thursday has generally been lauded by the public, who feels that appointments to government related bodies and GLCs should not be regarded as rewards for politicians.
The public perception is that it used to provide well-paid jobs to politicians who didn’t make the cut or have lost their electoral posts but still wield clout in their parties.
But in all fairness, not every political appointee, are hangers on.
There are experienced and competent appointees, with strong academic and professional credentials.
Their contacts are regarded as helpful to even private companies.
It is understood that this was discussed at length during the Cabinet meeting with some Ministers bringing up these pertinent points but, in the end, a blanket decision was taken to clear all previous appointments.
There has been talk that some politicians have threatened to challenge the legality of their termination as it is provided for under the respective Acts such as the appointment of Mara board members under Section 3 of the Majlis Amanah Rakyat Act 1966 and in the case of Felda under Section 15 of the Land Development Act 1956.
These acts regulate who is responsible for appointing them, the number of board members and sometimes, the criteria for the appointments, according to a study by IDEAS, the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs.
Most political appointees, when contacted, have chosen to remain silent, saying they had yet to receive their termination letters.
”Let me read the letter first, then I will consult the party leaders for a collective stand before I can comment.
We will also study the legal implications,” one politician said.
Another BN politician pointed out that for uniformity, perhaps states like Penang and Selangor, should also end the appointments of politicians in their respective state statutory bodies.
Then, there is another obstacle.
With a leaner Cabinet, it meant less Ministerial positions to be distributed, and those who had to be left out of these government portfolios would expect to get posts to these government bodies.
In the case of Umno, the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is seeking to keep his president’s post, will be under tremendous pressure from his party leaders, who are used to being appointed to these posts.
Reduced to being in a non-dominant position, the new Cabinet decision would prevent Zahid from rewarding his supporters, especially the division chiefs.
For example, from 2015-2021, 12 politicians from Umno, Bersatu and PAS, have been appointed into the board of Mara, an important Malay agency.
According to IDEAS, from 2016-2020, 10 politicians came on board Felda with all 10 from Umno.
Under the PH government of 22 months, non-politicians were picked to head certain statutory bodies but Pakatan Harapan, on its own, may now find its hands tied, as compromises would have to give way.
There have also been suggestions that the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim be given the discretionary powers.
But it is a good start.
Surely in a country of over 32 million Malaysians, there are more than enough qualified professionals, who can balance the political practicalities with the needs of the people.
Malaysia needs a reset, and many would find it hard to cope with new changes, but fresh approaches are necessary.
