LAWYER Datuk Baldev Singh Gurchan Singh, recently appointed chairman of the Appeals Board established under the state’s Freedom of Information Enactment 2010, has declined the appointment following concerns raised by some quarters.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Baldev, the father-in-law of Deputy Chief Minister II Jagdeep Singh Deo, had magnanimously declined the appointment to avoid prolonging the issue.
When asked by a reporter about potential nepotism regarding Baldev’s appointment after attending the annual general meeting of the Penang Chinese Clan Council at Berjaya Penang Hotel today, Chow said that concerns had been raised in the media. As a result, Baldev took the appropriate action to withdraw.
Chow explained that the state executive council had earlier approved Baldev’s appointment because of a vacancy on the board that needed to be filled.
“Datuk Baldev has over 60 years of distinguished career in the legal service, including legal aid work and other charitable activities, in Penang.
“We think that, despite his qualifications for the Appeals Board under the Freedom of Information Enactment, he chose not to prolong the issue. In fact, there have been very few cases, practically none, over the years.
“However, given the concerns raised, he has declined the appointment,” Chow explained.
On June 1, Urimai secretary-general Satees Muniandy, a former Bagan Dalam assemblyman, questioned why Jagdeep Singh’s father-in-law was chosen to head the board.
On Thursday, the Penang state assembly passed a motion to appoint six members to the board, including Baldev Singh as chairman.
The others appointed were former Bar Council president Abdul Fareed Abdul Gafoor as deputy chairman, Harinder Singh Malkit Singh, Carolyn Oh Li Lin, Datuk Nagarethinam Rengasamy Pillay and Regina Amalorpava Mary Aboorvasamy. They were appointed for a three-year term beginning June 1, 2024, until May 31, 2027.
Jagdeep himself presented the motion, which was unanimously passed at the State Legislative Assembly.
Story by K.H.Ong
Pix and video by Siew Chia En