KUALA LUMPUR – The chief executive officer of the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI), Datuk Wira Dr. Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff, has confirmed that his tenure will end on Oct 8, 2025, marking the completion of his two-year contract.
He said it had always been public knowledge that he intended to serve the full term, a point he made clear to the chairman of the board of directors (BoD) and the chief people officer when he first assumed the role nearly two years ago.
Rais added that he had also formally informed the BoD of his decision four months ago.
“My task was threefold: clean up, build systems, and build reserves. That is precisely what we did here with the close cooperation of an amazing and hardworking team,” Rais told Scoop when contacted.
He said MRANTI is now on the right trajectory and, given changing business dynamics both locally and globally, is expected to perform even better moving forward.
The transition process began three months ago, and an acting CEO will take over until a permanent appointment is made.
Meanwhile, Rais said he will announce his next career move early next year.
“For now, I want to rest, watch all the Liverpool matches, complete a book on AI, and continue writing opinion articles that manifest truth to power without fear or favour.”
Rais was appointed in 2023, succeeding acting CEO and chief commercial officer Khairil Anuar Sadat. During his tenure, he was responsible for driving MRANTI’s strategic vision and overseeing its day-to-day operations.
MRANTI, the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation, is an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI).
It functions as the national catalyst for innovation, focusing on accelerating the commercialisation of research and development outputs and bridging the gap between ideas and market impact. – September 26, 2025