KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 14): Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, the newly appointed finance minister II, has stepped down from his roles as the non-independent non-executive chairman of Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) and as a non-independent non-executive director of Sime Darby Plantation Bhd.

MRCB and Sime Darby Plantation in bourse filings on Thursday cited Amir’s departure, following his recent appointment as the finance minister II in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday.

Amir’s appointment to the Cabinet position was followed by him relinquishing his position as the chief executive officer of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), which is the largest shareholder of MRCB and has a substantial stake in Sime Darby Plantation.

Amir, 56, joined MRCB's board as a non-independent and non-executive director in September 2021, following his appointment to the EPF in March 2021. The EPF owns 36% of the construction outfit.

Subsequently, in January 2023, he was redesignated as MRCB’s non-independent non-executive chairman.

Meanwhile at Sime Darby Plantation, he assumed the role of a director in February 2023. The EPF holds a 13.33% direct stake in the plantation group.

Amir started his career with the Shell Group of Companies, where he spent 10 years in various capacities in Malaysia, Singapore and the UK, before joining MISC Bhd in 2000 — where he held several senior management posts before being appointed as its president and CEO in January 2009.

He also served as the president and CEO of Tenaga Nasional Bhd from April 2019 to February 2021.

In a separate announcement, MRCB announced the redesignation of Datuk Mohamad Nasir Ab Latif as its new acting chairman effective immediately.

Nasir, 65, was previously the deputy chief executive officer (Investment) of EPF.

Shares in MRCB closed one sen or 2.3% higher at 44 sen, giving the group a market capitalization of RM1.99 billion.

Sime Darby Plantation finished one sen or 0.22% higher at RM4.54, valuing the group at RM31.4 billion.

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