This follows former Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s appointment as Mara chairman, and former Machang MP Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub’s reappointment as Felcra chairman, which was confirmed today.

Bersih chairman Thomas Fann said Anwar should reveal whether he backed their appointments and also explain why he supported or opposed them.

“The fact that Jazlan’s appointment was announced at a party meeting by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi removes any doubts that it is a political appointment,” he said in a statement.

Fann reiterated that only people who had the right qualifications should be appointed to GLCs since these companies were custodians of public resources.

He repeated his call for a clear framework to be established when it came to appointing individuals in GLCs, even if it involved politicians who were not elected representatives currently.

Jazlan, who is the Kelantan Umno chief, was first appointed as Felcra chairman in October 2021. He also served as deputy rural and regional development minister in the Najib Razak administration between 2015 and 2018.

Zahid first announced Jazlan’s reappointment last December, but a few days later, Anwar said this had been put on hold.

At the time, Anwar said politicians and MPs may be appointed to GLCs but maintained that their professional capabilities, past performance and compliance with good governance principles will be considered first.

Today, Zahid confirmed Jazlan’s reappointment in a speech at an Umno event in Kelantan, where the Umno president introduced the candidates in the running for posts in the party’s elections.