Career Leap For Tok Mat After Years In State Leadership

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Mohamad Hasan on polling day last month. He contested a parliamentary seat for the first time, and has been appointed defence minister in Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet. (Facebook pic)KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan as defence minister in the Cabinet led by Anwar Ibrahim is seen as a career leap for the veteran politician.
Despite being a new face in the federal Cabinet, Mohamad, popularly known as ‘Tok Mat’, has the credibility accumulated over 25 years in politics to face the challenges that come with the new portfolio.
Mohamad, 66, has extensive experience in the economy and state administration. He led the Negeri Sembilan state government as menteri besar for almost 20 years since 2004.
He has a strong personality, and that is seen as quite important in facing the various security challenges as well as the threat of Covid-19 even though the country has moved into an endemic transition phase.
Among Mohamad’s proudest achievements is the huge potential development in Sendayan with the construction of an air base on 303.5 hectares at Sendayan, occupied by the air force since 2018.
Mohamad stood in a parliamentary seat for the first time at the general election last month and won comfortably with a 19,897-vote majority in a five-cornered contest.
Mohamad, who hails from Kampung Kundur Hilir, Rantau, has extensive experience in the corporate world. He was a chief executive of Cold Storage, chairman of Fima group, adviser to Mercedes Benz Asia for the Southeast Asia region, and was a managing director of Cycle & Carriage Bintang in 1994. - FMT

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