By Emmanuel Samarathisa
TWO Umno leaders have been named to be appointed as chairmen of government-linked company airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and public transport firm Prasarana Malaysia Bhd.
Padang Terap MP Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had been named MAHB chairman while Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Rahman was slated for Prasarana, sources familiar with the matter tell FocusM on condition of anonymity.
It is understood that both men had accepted the offer and an announcement would be made soon, sources said.
Retired Federal Court judge Tan Sri Zainun Ali is current MAHB chairman. She was appointed on Jan 17 last year. Former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Zaharah Ibrahim is current Prasarana chairman and she was appointed on Nov 20 last year.
Mahdzir, an Umno vice-president, was higher education minister before the 14th general election. His name was bandied around as the new Telekom Malaysia Bhd chairman but sources said he turned down the offer.
He had been accused of being a party to the Sarawak solar hybrid project for rural schools scandal involving Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Mahdzir had denied demanding a cut from the RM1.25 bil projects from Jepak Holdings Bhd, a company allegedly linked to Rosmah, during a Feb 11 trial.
Meanwhile, Tajuddin had a series of entertaining episodes during last year’s parliamentary sittings.
On July 2 last year, Parliament descended into a shouting match after Tajuddin was booted out for repeatedly interjecting during the question-and-answer time by the then Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub. Tajuddin was then suspended for four days from the Dewan Rakyat.
On Nov 20, Tajuddin and fellow Umno member Kuala Krai MP Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Mohamed Said traded profanities and almost came close to fisticuffs after a heated argument in Parliament.
On Dec 3, he was again suspended after linking the ash worn by Jelutong MP RSN Rayer on his forehead to the ashes of communist leader Chin Peng.
Tajuddin was most recently quoted in the media airing his unhappiness over Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s selection of Cabinet members. – April 29, 2020
