KUALA LUMPUR – The father-in-law of Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo has declined his appointment as chair of the state Appeals Board after questions of nepotism were raised.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kan Yeow told reporters in George Town today that lawyer Datuk Baldev Singh Gurchan Singh turned down the position.
Chow said Baldev did not want to “prolong the issue” despite being qualified to head the board, which decides on appeals to rejections of applications under the Penang Freedom of Information Enactment 2010.
“Since concerns have been raised, he has taken the appropriate action not to prolong this issue,” Chow was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.
Baldev and other new board members were named as candidates in a motion tabled to the Penang legislative assembly last month by Jagdeep himself.
The motion was unanimously passed by the assembly on May 30.
Chow said a paper by Jagdeep explaining his father-in-law’s appointment, as well as his qualifications, including a distinguished legal career and charitable works, was studied by the state executive council before it was brought to the assembly.
The appointment and family links in the matter were highlighted by Urimai secretary-general Satees Muniandy yesterday.
Satees demanded an explanation from Chow and questioned if there were no other suitable and qualified candidates to chair the state appeals board. – June 2, 2024