by Emmanuel Samarathisa
SABAK Bernam MP Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh’s appointment as Socso chairman has been turned down, after legal advisers of the social security organisation flagged a clause in its act that bars “a member of any legislature” from being chosen for the post, sources tell FocusM on condition of anonymity.
It is understood that Fasiah met with Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan today over the matter but the Bersatu MP was informed that the ministry couldn’t proceed with his appointment as that ran counter to the Socso act.
According to the Sixth Schedule of the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969, a person is disqualified from the board “if he has become a member of any legislature.”
FocusM reported yesterday that Fasiah had been tipped to succeed Allianz Malaysia Bhd CEO Zakri Khir after the latter tendered his resignation as Socso chairman.
Zakri was appointed on Oct 8, 2018, by the now-defunct Council of Eminent Persons, to chair Socso. Among the initiatives the insurance veteran oversaw are the wage subsidies and employment retention programmes that make up part of the government’s Covid-19 measures. – April 8, 2020
