Najib Razak And 8 More Politicians Who Left Their High-Ranking Positions After 9 May
Tun Dr Mahathir warned that "heads will roll"... and roll they did.
By Samantha Khor — 24 May 2018, 07:39 PM
Shortly after he was sworn in as Prime Minister of Malaysia on 10 May, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad warned that heads of certain departments will "have to go" in a bid to clean up the government
In a report by New Straits Times, Tun Dr. Mahathir remarked that "heads will roll" as he works to implement reform agendas within the administration.
"Certain heads of department will have to go. I found that some of them were aiding and abetting with the previous kleptrocatic leadership," he said.
And roll they did. In the past two weeks, several high-ranking officials have either resigned, or found themselves transferred or put on leave. Here are the casualties so far:
1. RESIGNED: Former PM Najib Razak stepped down as BN and UMNO president on 12 May
His position has been taken over by then UMNO acting Deputy President Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, while Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein assumed the role of UMNO deputy president.
2. RESIGNED: Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad, chief commissioner of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), tendered his resignation on 14 May
Dzulkifli was appointed MACC chief in August 2016, replacing Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.
His role had been taken over by former deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, who led the first investigation into 1MDB in 2015 but opted for early retirement in 2016 midway through the investigation
3. PUT ON LEAVE: Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali was asked to go on leave after Tun Dr. Mahathir remarked that "there is no A-G in the country now" on 14 May
Technically, Apandi has not officially left his position, but we thought he deserved a place in this list anyway.
Apandi replaced former A-G Tan Sri Gani Patail after the latter was terminated on 28 July 2015. According to The Edge Markets, Gani Patail was leading a task force investigating 1MDB and was preparing to press charges against Najib at the time.
Apandi began his 30-day unrecorded leave on 15 May, with Tun Dr. Mahathir adding that his duties have been taken over by Solicitor-General Datuk Engku Nor Faizah Engku Atek.
Later, Gobind Singh Deo - current Minister of Communication and Multimedia - called for Apandi's resignation in a Facebook post.
4. TRANSFERRED: Treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohamad Irwan Serigar Abdullah was relieved of his duties at the Finance Ministry and transferred to the Public Service Department on 14 May
The government also shortened Irwan's service contract, which was supposed to end on 6 March 2019, to 14 June 2018.
According to Straits Times, Irwan is also in charge of several government-linked corporations under the Finance Ministry, including chairmanship of 1MDB and the Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre (MaGIC).
5. RESIGNED: Tan Sri Shahrir Samad gave up his chairmanship of FELDA after losing his Johor Bahru seat in the 14th General Election
Shahrir Samad was appointed in January 2017 to address the agency's financial and management problems, replacing Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.
According to The Edge Markets, FELDA settlements make up 54 parliamentary constituencies, mostly controlled by BN at the time.
6. RESIGNED: Former Kedah MB Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah stepped down as chairman of the Kedah Football Association on 16 May
Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah served as the Menteri Besar of Kedah after current Kedah MB Mukhriz Mahathir was forced to step down in February 2016.
7. RESIGNED: On 24 May, Tabung Haji confirmed that Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim is no longer its chairman
Although Abdul Azeez claimed that he submitted his resignation on 14 May, his resignation was only confirmed after reports emerged that several properties linked to him were raided by MACC.
It was reported that MACC seized about RM500,000 worth of cash in various currencies as well as some luxury watches during the raid.
8. RESIGNED: Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah confirmed that he had stepped down as chairman of the National Higher Education Fund (PTPTN) on 24 May
Shamsul, who was appointed to the role in 2013, said he actually submitted his resignation letter on 15 May.
He added that he will be concentrating on his role as MP of Lenggong instead.
9. RESIGNATION PENDING: Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said he will resign from his role as Felcra chairman at the end of this month
According to New Straits Times, the Kinabatangan MP expressed his intention to tender his resignation following a meeting with the Council of Elders to discuss the agency's operations and performance.