Former chief justice Arifin to head Special Independent Committee on Emergency

(The Star) – The Prime Minister’s Office has announced several appointments to the Special Independent Committee on Emergency, including former chief justice Tun Arifin Zakaria , who will serve as chairman.

Also part of the committee are former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, former inspector-general of police Tan Sri Norian Mai and former Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin.

Others are former health director-general Prof Tan Sri Dr Mohamad Taha Arif, surgeon Tan Sri Dr Yahya Awang and Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) president Tan Sri Ter Leong Yap.

Also appointed are Cyberjaya University pro-chancellor Tan Sri Dr R. Palan, former deputy public prosecutor Datuk Sallehuddin Saidin, Perlis mufti Datuk Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, public health expert Datuk Dr Andrew Kiyu and former Sabah state secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman.

Among several politicians in the committee are Tanjung Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar, Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, Beaufort MP Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun and Pasir Puteh MP Dr Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh.

Opposition lawmakers Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim-Bandar Baharu), Anthony Loke (Seremban) and Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor) are also in the committee.

The PMO said that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had consented to the appointments, effective immediately.