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By Mihar Dias October 2024
The recent appointment of Nooryana Najwa, daughter of disgraced former Prime Minister Najib Razak, to the board of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) should come with a cynical disclaimer: “Recycling political legacies since 1957.”
This move raises fundamental questions about how far Malaysia has really come in its supposed fight against corruption and cronyism. One can almost hear the collective groan of a nation still reeling from the financial and reputational damage inflicted by the 1MDB scandal—an affair in which her own family played a starring role.
Let's not kid ourselves. While Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim assures us that the appointment process is rigorous, vetted by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Bank Negara, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (SPRM), and the police, it's hard to believe that Nooryana's family history didn’t raise a few red flags—or at least some wry smiles.
After all, her father is still serving time for embezzling billions from the state. So, does her appointment signal a return to old habits, where political dynasties are rewarded rather than held accountable?
Anwar's claim that all GLC appointments are based on "professionalism" and "clean records" seems like window dressing in this case. Are we truly expected to believe that Nooryana's career ascension is free of nepotism? Anwar's assertion that previous political positions are irrelevant and that politicians are barred from GLC boards, particularly in financial institutions, also rings hollow when a political name like Najib still carries enough weight to land a cushy spot in a major national corporation.
If the Madani government is serious about transparency, it should explain why Nooryana Najwa, with her family’s tainted legacy, was considered a qualified candidate. After all, this is no ordinary appointment. MATRADE plays a crucial role in promoting Malaysia’s exports and shaping its international economic reputation. How does having a Najib—any Najib—at the helm bolster Malaysia’s post-1MDB image?
Or perhaps more cynically, is this just the latest example of how, in Malaysia, being a ‘somebody’ means never having to answer for your family’s sins?
This appointment also risks further alienating an already disillusioned public. Anwar’s much-touted “unity government” appears increasingly weak, as political appointments like these feel more like a return to the old, corrupt ways of Malaysian politics. A mere token effort at post-scandal damage control? Maybe. But for many citizens who expected change and accountability, this feels like déjà vu—the same elites being shuffled around the same deck, with the same disregard for public opinion.
As much as Anwar tries to assure us that the selection process for key positions is now a model of integrity, the re-emergence of political names like Nooryana Najwa is a painful reminder that some things in Malaysia never change.
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