By Lawrence Yong
Malaysia’s diversified plantation Sime Darby Group has appointed Abdul Ghani Othman, ex-Johor chief minister, as its non-executive chairman and director, confirming earlier reports that this would take place.
Abdul Ghani Othman, an academician and politician who lost in a contest representing Umno against opposition party DAP’s Lim Kit Siang for Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in the 13th General Elections, has been the Johor state chief minister for 18 years (1995-2013), serving four terms.
The Sime Darby post was left vacant last November following the retirement of veteran BN politician Musa Hitam on Nov 8. In the interim period, Samsudin Osman was chairman of the company, which is one of Malaysia’s oldest conglomerates.
According to a filing to Bursa Malaysia, Sime Darby stated that 66-year old Abdul Ghani’s political career began in 1984 when he was appointed a senator. He was also deputy minister of Energy, Telecommunication and Post (1987-1990) and Deputy minister of Finance (1990-1993) and Minister of Youth and Sports (1993-1995).
Before entering politics, Abdul Ghani was an economics lecturer at University Malaya.
Sime Darby shares ended flat at RM9.40 on Monday on Bursa Malaysia.
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