KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita PKR deputy chief Sangetha Jayakumar has been confirmed as a board member of the Port Klang Authority (PKA).
In a Facebook post, Sangetha expressed her appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Transport Minister Anthony Loke for her appointment to the position.
"I express my thanks and appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Transport Minister Anthony Loke for the trust bestowed upon me.
"I would also like to extend special gratitude to Fadhlina Sidek for her encouragement and continuous efforts to strengthen women's empowerment.
"I see this appointment as a form of recognition for the efforts made," she said.
Sangetha also stated that her appointment to the PKA board of directors was a responsibility she would accept with a sense of duty as part of her commitment to the Madani government.
"The appointment is a responsibility I accept with a sense of duty, viewing it as an opportunity to further uplift, empower, and strengthen the agenda and commitment of the Madani government," she said.
Earlier, news of Sangetha's appointment as a board member sparked criticism following the government's pledge to reduce political appointments in government-related companies.
The Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) voiced deep concern and indignation over what it described as a resurgence of political appointments within the current Pakatan Harapan (PH) led unity government.
It said that this revelation came as a stark contradiction to the coalition's earlier commitment to curtail political patronage in government-run enterprises.
Following the criticism, she had previously responded to media queries by stating that she had not yet received the official appointment letter.
Sangetha, in October 2022 had criticised the political appointments made by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, accusing it of buying support.
She is the daughter of Dr Xavier Jayakumar, a former PKR minister who resigned from the party in March 2021 and switched his support to the PN coalition, led by Muhyiddin Yassin.