KUALA LUMPUR (March 5): The East Coast Economic Region Development Council announced today that Baidzawi Che Mat has succeeded Datuk Seri Jebasingam Issace John as the council's new chief executive officer, from Monday (March 4).

This is after Jebasingam took on a new role as chief executive of the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, it said in a statement.

"As CEO, En. Baidzawi will be responsible in providing strategic direction and oversight of ECERDC’s projects and programmes in the East Coast Economic Region (ECER). 

"With almost three decades of experience in managing finance and oil and gas operations in Malaysia and internationally, En. Baidzawi’s leadership and experience makes him an ideal fit for ECERDC’s next stage of growth. En. Baidzawi joined ECERDC in 2016 as the general manager of the Finance Division," the council said in a statement.

Also appointed was Dato' Ragu Sampasivam, who was the council's corporate strategic planning division general manager, as the council's chief operating officer.

"Under the stewardship of En. Baidzawi and Dato' Ragu, ECERDC is confident that the region will be able to further accelerate its socio-economic development, through strategic partnerships with the Federal Government and various State Government agencies. This is also in line with the government’s goal to ensure an equitable, inclusive and sustainable growth for Malaysia," it said.

The ECERDC is a statutory body set up to spearhead the execution and implementation of the Esat Coast Economic Region (ECER) Master Plan. It plays a lead role in setting the directions, policies and strategies for the socio-economic development of ECER by promoting and facilitating investments into the region.

The ECER region covers the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and the districts of Mersing in Johor.