No more government job for me, says Wahid Omar

PNB Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar did not beat around the bush when asked whether he’ll ever return to the public sector.

“I’m very clear, my family’s very clear – we do not wish to enter politics, and therefore I will remain in the corporate sector,” he said during a luncheon talk with members of media today.

Abdul Wahid said he also believes in “optimising resources” to serve the government through his current role as PNB chair.

He said he also opted for just one term in government to avoid “becoming too comfortable” as a minister.

“My wife was very clear that she does not want me to be a politician, because the moment I become a politician, we will lose our private space,” adding that the thing he misses most about government is the weekly cabinet meetings.

He also noted some ‘timing’ concerns of staying.

“I think the danger of still being in government when the general election is coming, especially this GE14, there’s always a risk that you might be asked to run. That’s a risk we wouldn’t want to take,” he said.

The former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department joined PNB on August 1 last year.

READ: 'Uber-cool' Abdul Wahid Omar tells why he is now a cab driver

READ: Serving in the cabinet for three years a rare privilege - Abdul Wahid Omar

The former Maybank CEO is currently spearheading the fund’s 2017-2020 Strategic Plan.

Under his leadership, PNB has embarked on 4 major exercises, including the demerger of the Sime Darby Group and UMW Holdings, the acquisition of SILK Highway and the merger of SP Setia Bhd and I&P Group.

Abdul Wahid succeeded Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid who was appointed PNB's non-executive chairman in 1996.

During his tenure as as minister in charge of economic affairs, Abdul Wahid oversaw, among others, government agencies such the Economic Planning Unit, Statistics Department, Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas), Talent Corporation and the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Unit.