Nooryana Najwa, daughter of former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has been appointed as a director of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade). The announcement was made by Matrade chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican on social media, sparking mixed reactions given her family’s high-profile legal troubles.
Nooryana, 36, currently serves as an executive committee member of UMNO’s Puteri wing and has now taken on this new role at Matrade, an agency responsible for promoting Malaysia’s external trade. In a Facebook post, Reezal shared that he personally handed over her appointment letter and witnessed her pledge to uphold anti-corruption principles along with two other new board members, Datuk Hairil Yahri Yaacob and Dr. Mastura Abdul Karim.
“Congratulations to Datin Nooryana Najwa on her appointment as a Matrade BOD member,” Reezal wrote, adding that she took an anti-corruption oath alongside her fellow appointees. However, no further explanation was given regarding the rationale behind her selection for the position.
The appointment has quickly become a subject of public interest due to Nooryana’s familial ties. Her father, Najib Razak, is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence after being convicted on charges related to the misappropriation of funds from SRC International, a former subsidiary of the infamous 1MDB scandal. The former prime minister is also facing multiple other charges linked to 1MDB, a global corruption case that continues to loom large over Malaysia’s political and financial landscape.
In addition to her father’s legal woes, Nooryana’s mother, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, is also embroiled in her own legal battles. Rosmah was convicted of soliciting and receiving bribes related to a solar power project intended for rural schools in Sarawak. She was sentenced to prison and fined a staggering RM970 million. Her appeal is scheduled to be heard by the Court of Appeal on October 23 and 24, adding another layer of legal complexity to the family’s high-profile challenges.
The timing of Nooryana’s appointment has raised eyebrows, with critics questioning whether it is appropriate for someone from such a controversial family to be given a public position of influence. Her father’s and mother’s ongoing legal cases have fueled public skepticism about the appointment, with some expressing concern that it could further erode trust in public institutions.
Despite the controversy, supporters of Nooryana argue that she should be judged on her own merits rather than being defined by her family’s legal troubles. As a member of UMNO’s Puteri wing, she has been involved in political activities for several years, and some believe her experience within the party qualifies her for the role.
Yet, the appointment comes at a time when the Malaysian public remains deeply divided over issues of corruption and governance. With her father behind bars and her mother awaiting the outcome of her appeal, Nooryana’s new position will undoubtedly be scrutinized by those wary of the influence of political dynasties.
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