Datuk Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff has resigned from his role as the Chairman Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) today.
In a statement, Rais said that he had conveyed his decision to step down to both the Finance Minister and Communications and Multimedia Minister back in August and in early September respectively.
According to sources, Datuk Rais said in his parting statement that he has at all times been uncompromising on his principles in the line of duty despite having made some difficult decisions, unpopular as they may be, the right ones guided by good governance and integrity.
Datuk Rais also stated that MDEC was a very critical agency that required utmost attention and empowerment as it spearheaded the country’s digital economy, with the Board of Directors being allowed the necessary latitude and independence to do the right thing.
“It is also critical that the BoD cannot and must not be a rubber stamp for anyone – be it shareholder ministry or supervisory ministry”, added Datuk Rais. “Fiduciary responsibilities require Board members to stay independent, objective, responsible, honest, trustworthy, and efficient. Board members, as stewards of public trust, must always act for the good of the organisation that they represent.
“MDEC cannot be treated as mere project management or event management company, neither can it be vendor-driven. It has a bigger and important role in charting the digital economy of the nation. The recent pandemic has shown how important and critical the digital economy is, in all spheres of human existence. This will only grow in months and years to come, with greater intensity,” he added further.
Datuk Rais mentioned the list of achievements he had throughout his tenure, such as the restructuring of the Board of Directors and the management, improvement of governance and integrity with new Discretionary Authorisation Limits (DAL), digitisation of MDEC operations, and Malaysia 5.0.
“Credible open tender for procurement was intensified, open and transparent grant administration was implemented based on “know how” and not “know who” principles anchored on four core objectives – speed, rightful recipients, good governance and integrity,” he concluded.
He was appointed as the Chairman of MDEC on the 13th of June, 2020.
His resignation follows in just a short span of coming under fire from shipping associations for making derogatory remarks about Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong on the cabotage issue.
Datuk Rais Hussin, who has been critical of the government’s decision to revoke cabotage exemption for foreign vessels undertaking submarine cable repairs, had referred to Datuk Wee as a “minister with an IQ of a cabbage”.
Source: Malay Mail
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