In a statement issued today, the Centre for a Better Tomorrow (Cenbet) also said the government had no business treating key positions in its agencies and GLCs as a game of musical chairs.
The NGO, which advocates transparency and good governance, said it was concerned over Isa Samad’s appointment as acting chairman of SPAD, shortly after he stepped down as chairman of Felda Global Ventures (FGV), which is currently embroiled in controversy.
On Monday, Isa quit as FGV chairman after a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Razak, who later the same day, appointed Isa as the acting chairman of SPAD.
“We are deeply concerned over Isa Samad’s appointment even as controversy lingers over his stewardship of FGV.
“Isa has not been convicted of any crimes or charged, and he must be treated as innocent until proven guilty. But a person holding any key position, where public funds and statutory powers are vested, must not only be upright and accountable, but be seen to be so,” Cenbet said.
Cenbet, which has former Malaysian Bar president Lim Chee Wee and former MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu as co-presidents, said that Isa’s high-profile disagreement with the suspended FGV chief executive officer Zakaria Arshad as well as his questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) makes the appointment in SPAD more controversial.
“As such, we believe that Isa should consider not accepting his appointment in SPAD, pending the completion of MACC’s probe. Such a move is not an admission of guilt,” Cenbet said.
The NGO also called for the government to consider reviewing its practice of moving around or transferring key government or GLC office-bearers, especially when it involves controversial personalities.
“Such a practice will send out a wrong message about public accountability.”
Meanwhile, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang also called for Isa to decline his appointment at SPAD, pending the inquiry into his stewardship of Felda and FGV, which lost billions in its valuation on the stock market under his watch.
“If Isa is not fit to continue as FGV chairman, how could he be fit and qualified to be SPAD chairman and be responsible, directly or indirectly, for the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) project, the KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail (RM60 billion), MRT Line (RM28 billion) and MRT Circle Line (RM20 billion) projects?
“The country must say loud and clear ‘enough is enough” to the fiasco of GLC musical chairs and start the era of appointment of the best man to head GLCs,” Lim said.
Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP, also criticised the Cabinet for not having questioned the prime minister over Isa’s new appointment or even vetoed the decision, in their meeting yesterday.