MP SPEAKS | Many corporate professional GLC chairpersons such as Mohd Bakke Salleh (MPOB) and Nageeb Wahab (Felcra) have been replaced by politicians or MPs from Perikatan Nasional, Umno or PAS recently. 

Notably, some of the politicians who have been newly appointed to head GLCs were involved in scandals one way or another. Many more politicians will be appointed soon, including to GLCs at the state level.

Some people say while millions of ordinary people are losing their jobs, PN politicians are getting two plum jobs.

During the Umno/BN administration, many GLCs which were led by politicians were involved in scandals amounting to billions. The notable ones were Felda, Tabung Haji, 1MDB and many more. There was a dire need to clean up and reform GLCs.

After Pakatan Harapan took over, we embarked on GLC reforms. Chairpersons appointed to GLCs were strictly professionals only. 

Harapan did appoint some MPs to become chairpersons but they were only restricted to statutory bodies (badan berkanun). These statutory bodies are part of government agencies that must implement government policies. They have to go through the Finance Ministry for all contracts and follow its strict processes for tender. Many people are not aware that Harapan stuck to our manifesto promises not to appoint politicians as GLC chairpersons. That’s the difference.

In short, GLCs have embarked on reforms to be independent and professional. Many GLCs turn profits such as Felda and Tabung Haji during Harapan's administration. There were no scandals or investigations by MACC because they were run by professionals. Now the PN government is enjoying the fruits of Harapan's labour.

With a massive entering of politicians into GLCs of a scale worse than the Umno/BN era, will the chairpersons be able to run it professionally, with no political agenda? 

Will they refrain from using GLCs to bolster their political bases and give contracts to unqualified supporters? Will they intervene in the contractual or tender process to favour companies that lobbied them?

These are the questions the rakyat is asking.

Is the GLC reform dead by now?

SIM TZE TZIN is Bayan Baru MP. 

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.