New Span chief quit other posts, govt says amid conflict-of-interest claims

Summary

• Newly appointed Span chairperson Abdul Kadir Din had quit his positions from private water and waste management-related firms before taking up his new role, the government says.

• Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry also points out Kadir’s role is a non-executive one, which means he cannot make unilateral decisions.

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Newly appointed National Water Services Commission (Span) chairperson Abdul Kadir Din had relinquished his positions from private water and waste management-related firms before taking up his new role, the government said.

The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry said this after an opposition MP raised questions on conflicts of interest after Kadir assumed the job at Span.

“One of the key conditions for appointment was that the candidate must resign from any position that could give rise to a conflict of interest.

“Based on our review, he has fully complied, and a copy of his resignation letter was submitted to the ministry,” FMT reported the ministry as saying.

Yesterday, Bersatu MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan raised concerns over a possible conflict of interest in Kadir’s appointment to Span.

It was claimed that Kadir was the managing director of the waste management company, Sacra Sol Sdn Bhd.

He is also said to be an adviser to Ranhill Holdings Bhd, which is linked to Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd, the company managing water services in Johor.

“This is a basic ethical principle to ensure good governance and to prevent collusion, corruption and cronyism.

“The government must urgently clarify whether Kadir has stepped down from all conflicting roles before assuming his duties as SPAN chairperson,” Wan Saiful said.

Subject to regulations

On that note, the ministry said Kadir had stepped down as adviser to Ranhilll Holdings “several years ago”.

The ministry also said that each member of the commission, including the chairperson, was subject to a code of ethics and conflict of interest policy.

“They are required to declare any potential conflicts and must recuse themselves from related decisions, when necessary,” it said.

The ministry also pointed out that Kadir’s role in Span is non-executive in nature, which means he has no authority to make executive decisions unilaterally.

It added that all major decisions by Span are taken collectively with the other commission members and the CEO, with proposals on policy being scrutinised by the ministry.

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