In a statement, Isis said his appointment to the think tank was made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and came into effect on Feb 17.

Faiz is a lawyer by training but has vast experience in public policy and research, having served as special international policy and affairs adviser in the Selangor government.

He went on to serve as strategic and international relations adviser in the economic affairs ministry from 2018 to 2020 and in the international trade and industry ministry from 2020 to 2022.

He also co-founded the World Forum for Muslim Democrats in 2009, which was chaired by Anwar.

“Faiz also has vast experience in the corporate sector, helming various public-listed companies. He was a journalist with the New Straits Times before moving on to law enforcement and legal studies,” Isis said.

“In 30 years of legal and corporate practice, he specialised in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and advisory, forensic due diligence and public interest litigation.”

Faiz is also the founding dean of Universiti Selangor’s (Unisel) business school, where he still teaches strategic management and organisational behaviour.

He thanked Anwar for giving him the responsibility of leading Isis, saying the appointment of a “high-powered” board of directors showed Putrajaya wanted to ensure Isis remained a world-class think tank.

“With Malaysia Madani as the guiding philosophy of nationhood, Malaysia is well poised to take on a larger role in the international arena and we’re here to advance that agenda and help realise our global aspirations,” he said.