KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): Pharmaniaga Bhd has appointed Datuk Dr Hafsah Hashim, the former chief executive of SME Corp Malaysia, its non-executive chairman effective today.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT)-controlled Pharmaniaga said Hafsah, 61, has vast experience in public sector administration and has served in several Ministries including Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Primary Industries.

She served in the Government for 36 years before retiring on August 15, 2018, and currently sits on the board of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd, SIRIM Bhd and Zurich Takaful Malaysia Bhd.

The chairman position was left vacated after Tan Sri Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin stepped down as LTAT chief executive officer in September last year, simultaneously relinquishing his four top positions in LTAT-controlled public-listed companies including Pharmaniaga.

Besides Hafsah, Pharmaniaga also announced the appointment of several new directors to the board. This includes MAHSA University Pro-Chancellor and chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohamed Ismail Merican, Shahrom & Co Advocates & Solicitors founding and managing partner Brig Gen (R) Datuk Mohd Shahrom Mohamad, former Prasarana Malaysia Bhd group chief financial officer Datuk Mohd Zahir Zahur Hussain, and UAC Bhd director Datuk Koo Hock Fee.

Shares of Pharmaniaga closed today down 4 sen or 1.45% at RM2.72 for a market capitalisation of RM710.55 million.