KUALA LUMPUR — DAP lawmakers Young Syefura Othman and Syahredzan Johan have been appointed to the board of trustees of Yayasan Bank Rakyat.
It is not known when the appointments were made, although the names of the Bentong MP and Bangi MP, respectively, and their photos, have been added to the foundation’s webpage about the board.
However, their appointments stirred debate on X, where some netizens are pointing out how their coalition, Pakatan Harapan (PH), had previously opposed political appointments.
Other X users are noting that their positions are to the bank’s charitable foundation, and not the institution’s financial management.
User @lady_bug11 said people should understand the difference between Yayasan Bank Rakyat and Bank Rakyat itself.
“The Yayasan is not a GLC (government-linked company) or a limited company, but it is a welfare foundation.
“The foundation’s board of trustees do not receive salaries or fixed allowances, just some compensation for attendance (at meetings).
“So, these appointments are more for the service of the community, and not for personal profit. Some people just want to look for faults even when it’s not a big or relevant issue,” she said.
The current PH-led government has been criticised at times by reform activists and civil society groups for assigning political appointees to head GLCs.
The appointments have included politicians from Umno, which observers say is a way for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appease former foes-turned allies in his unity government. – November 20, 2024