After adverse publicity over the sand mining issue, the Selangor government has appointed Transparency International-Malaysia committee member Sabtu Md Ali as chairperson of Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB), the wholly-owned state company managing sand dredging.

The appointment is effective June 1 and Sabtu replaces Abdul Shukor Nagor, who resigned from the post on Aug 29, 2010, a statement issued in Shah Alam says.

Sabtu, 60, has been an independent, non-executive director at KSSB since August 2011 and overlooked the inculcation of positive and integrity values in the company.

An expert in planning and development, Sabtu holds an MBA in Organisation Development from Ohio University and a basic degree in electrical and electronic engineering from University of Portsmouth. He began his career with Tenaga Nasional Bhd.

In 2007, he set up his own company, Intellectual Innovation Resources Sdn Bhd, which is involved in consultancy and training.

The Selangor government has expressed confidence that Sabtu can positively contribute to KSSB's management and integrity.

KSSB was formed in 2008 to manage sand mining activities but it has been embroiled with allegations of corruption, illegal sand mining and power abuse. The state-owned company was the first government-linked company in the country to sign the integrity pledge.