Board bypass process in appointing chairman: Simon

AGRICULTURE and Livestock Minister John Simon says due process was bypassed by the Oil Palm Industry Corporation (OPIC) board in appointing a new chairman.
Simon said the board had appointed a chairman without his endorsement.
“The OPIC issue had gone before the court early this year,” Simon said.
He said the court ruled that the board meet on the matter in compliance with the OPIC Act.
“The board (should) make the recommendation of their preferred candidates and to give it to the minister who appoints,” he said.
“In this case the board went ahead and appointed somebody and brought it to me to endorse their appointment.
“That’s not what the court said.
“It said the board needs to sit within seven days and makes recommendation to the minister to take up to cabinet to appoint.”
He said the decision by the board was the result of bad advice given by some of its members.
“They are not supposed to appoint.
“They can only make recommendation to the minister.”
He advised the OPIC board to work with him as the minister.
“(They cannot) be working in isolation. They are bypassing me and trying to go to Cabinet or to the Public Service Commission,” he said.