SHAH ALAM - The appointment of politicians in government-linked companies (GLCs) is to ensure the agencies develop in accordance with the current government administration.
Umno Bangi chief Datuk Dr Mohd Zaidi Md Zain said the representatives in the GLC must be trusted by the country's leadership and that appointing leaders from the opposition, which had never happened, was necessary.
"There is no doubt that all parties that have led the country will appoint politicians to GLCs. In my opinion, there is no issue about it as long as the person appointed is qualified and competent.
"How can messages and services be delivered to employees if the upper management is headed in the opposite direction? It is a mistake when the appointment is made based on the status of friends or family," he said.
Other panelists were Jeram assemblyman Mohd Shaid Rosli, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) deputy research director Sri Murniati Yusuf, and Ismail Adnan as the moderator.
Mohd Zaidi added that the trust given must be carried out regardless of whether the appointee is a politician or not.
"It all depends on them, regardless of whether they are politicians or ordinary people, to break this trust.
"If there is a breach of trust, then report it to the concerned party, which is the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to investigate," he said.