KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): Private hospital operator KPJ Healthcare Bhd has named former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Ismail Bakar as its new non-independent and non-executive chairman.

Ismail, 64, will take over from Datuk Md Arif Mahmood, who stepped down from his position upon the completion of his two-year tenure on March 31.

According to its bourse filing on Tuesday, Ismail's appointment to KPJ’s board was effective immediately.

Ismail commenced his 30-year civil service in 1983 as an assistant secretary in the Contract and Supply Division of the Ministry of Finance, where he managed the implementation of procurement policies for the Ministry of Defence.

He brings extensive experience in various civil service roles, including serving as secretary general of the Finance, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry, and Transport Ministries, as well as budget director at the National Budget Office.

Additionally, he served as a senior adviser to the World Bank Group from 2008 to 2010 and was the 14th chief secretary to the government from August 2018 until his retirement in December 2019.

Recently, Ismail took on the role of chairman of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) effective February 1, 2024, for a three-year term.

Additionally, Ismail holds the position of chairman at two listed entities, namely Johor Plantations Bhd, which recently obtained approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd, and Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd.

KPJ currently operates a total of 29 hospitals in Malaysia, with one under construction in Kuala Selangor.

In earlier February, KPJ Healthcare announced plans to sublet the royal suite of Damansara Specialist Hospital 2 (DSH2) to its major shareholder Johor Corporation (JCorp), following renovations. JCorp holds a 35.86% direct stake and a 9.13% indirect stake in KPJ.

Shares in KPJ closed three sen or 1.59% higher at RM1.91, valuing the group at RM8.64 billion.