IDEAS’ director of research, Ali Salman, has been appointed as acting CEO, according to a press statement from the think tank. It did not say what Wan Saiful planned to do next.
Wan Saiful himself did not say where he was going, except that he wanted to take his passion to a “wider audience”. He was quoted in the statement as saying it was not easy for him to leave IDEAS, having spent nine years leading it.
Wan Saiful added:”But I see my next move as a step that I must take now or I will regret it forever. When I left a relatively comfortable life in the United Kingdom in 2009 to come back and set up IDEAS, I had not much more than just a passion to make a difference. Now is the time to take the same risk again, to bring that same passion to a wider audience.”
IDEAS was launched on Feb 8 2010, the brainchild of Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin Tuanku Muhriz, Wan Mohd Firdaus Wan Mohd Fuaad, and Wan Saiful.
Wan Saiful had earlier said that when the trio decided on IDEAS, “we made a conscious decision to dedicate our work to injecting Tunku’s (first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Alhaj) ideals into all facets of public policy”.
The statement said Wan Saiful developed IDEAS from a start-up organisation into a think tank known for its commitment to clear principles and the ability to conduct robust policy studies.
Under his leadership, IDEAS grew from just two people with a seed funding of RM500,000, into a team of 24 staff on its payroll today, with an annual income of over RM3 million. IDEAS also currently runs two charity projects – the IDEAS Autism Centre that caters to urban poor families in Selangor, and IDEAS Academy which is a secondary level refugee school in Kuala Lumpur.
IDEAS president Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin was quoted in the statement as saying: “Wan Saiful has been instrumental in developing a little idea conceived in London in 2006 among three friends into one of Malaysia’s most recognisable and respected think tanks, with clear impacts throughout civil society, policymaking and education – particularly through IDEAS’ two special projects, the IDEAS Autism Centre and IDEAS Academy.
“I wish him all the best as he brings his experience and wisdom to his future endeavours. As IDEAS moves forward, we will always strive to uphold the spirit of Merdeka and the supremacy of the constitution.”
IDEAS chairman Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria said: “I am saddened by this decision. Of course, his leaving is a loss to IDEAS. Wan Saiful’s passion and dedication helped build this organisation. I respect his decision and wish him well. IDEAS will build on what Wan Saiful has started, and we will continue to be an independent and cross-partisan think tank that we have always been.”