KUALA LUMPUR: The fate of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd’s president and chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Seri Azmi Abdul Aziz has become a subject of speculation after the recent changes in the government owned public transportation firm did not state anything about his tenure.
Sources said Azmi’s one-year contract expired at the end of December and so far, there is no indication from the Ministry of Finance on whether his term would be extended.
Azmi was appointed to helm Prasarana on Jan 1, 2015 and received a one-year extension in January 2017.
“Azmi could be reappointed as he had only served for three years. However the MoF could also appoint some else and move Azmi elsewhere. The decision lies with Mof,” said a source.
Mewanwhile two names have cropped up as possible replacement for Azmi.
One is name Darhim Dali Hashim, who is a director in Prasarana. Darhim is also the group CEO at Radimax Group Sdn Bhd. Darhim was appointed to the board of Prasarana on Nov 18, 2016.
The other candidate being bandied about is an engineer who was previously with Proton, the national car manufacturer.
“It could be that the government is looking for newblood to run the company,” said a source.
Azmi was previously chief development officer of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and brings with him more than 25 years of experience in the public transport industry.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Prasarana said it had appointed Muhammad Isom Azis as the acting CEO of Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd to replace Datuk Zohari Sulaiman, who had moved on to Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) as project director for MRT Line 3.
Muhammad Isom previous post as chief operating officer (COO) of MRT Sungai Buloh–Kajang (MRT SBK) Line will be taken over by Abdul Hadi Amran from LRT Ampang/Sri Petaling Line.
Hadi’s position as the COO will be filled by Mohd Ariffin Idris, who was previously the COO of KL Monorail.
Meanwhile, head of operations for MRT SBK Line, Azmi Mohd Zain was promoted to be the COO of KL Monorail.
In his absence, the post is filled by Sofiah Hussien, who was the head of MRT SBK Line operation control centre.
Rapid Rail’s other service network – LRT Kelana Jaya Line is headed by Ismail Abdullah, the statement said.