This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on September 6, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s former Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has been named the new chairman of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd.

Khalid, aged 60 this year, will take over the chairmanship of the government-owned public transport operator from Tan Sri Ismail Adam, whose term ended on Aug 31, said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in a statement yesterday.

“Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar will continue the mission and vision of Prasarana to build and provide world-class public transportation services, as well as to increase public usage of the services,” it said.

Khalid has also been appointed to the position of Special Envoy, said the PMO, to strengthen the Malaysian government’s relationship and cooperation with the international community “in the war against terrorism, extremism and human trafficking”.

“This (the appointment) is in view of Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar’s vast experience in tackling the issues, as well as his close relationship with international agencies when he served as the Malaysian Inspector-General of Police,” it said.

Khalid served the nation’s police force for 41 years. He assumed office as the 10th IGP on May 17, 2013, and served in that role for four years until his retirement on Monday.