Semenyih crash: Azlin left corporate world to serve the government

The Petaling Jaya-born Azlin, started his career with Tenaga Nasional Bhd after graduating from the University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in accounting degree in 1989.

He held several management positions in TNB in his five-year tenure in the national utility company, including as its Investor Relations Head before moving to Phileo Allied Securities as its Equity Analyst for a year till 1996, before moving to Caspian Research for two years (1996-1998), and as senior Equity Research Analyst, Nomura Advisory Services from Sept 1998 to May 2004.

He was involved in equity research, dealings and corporate advisory work while serving the several participating organisations of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.

In May 2004, he was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Avenue Securities Sdn Bhd for a year, responsible for business development, strategic planning, marketing and advising the equity research team in enhancing the research products and profile to institutional clients.

Azlin then moved up the corporate sector ladder when appointed Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of Malaysian Technology Development Corporation Sdn Bhd, a venture capital company under the Khazanah Nasional Berhad Group from 2005 to May 2008.

He was the Prime Minister's Department Economics Division director before being appointed chief private secretary to the Prime Minister effective March 10, 2014.

Azlin was once voted as "the best research analyst" in 2003 by The Edge, and team member for the research team at Avenue Securities which was voted as the "Most Improved Local Research House" and "Second Best Local Research House" by The Edge Weekly in 2004.

Azlin leaves behind wife Datin Seri Azlina Mahmad and three children, two boys and a girl.

Najib in a press conference last night described Azlin, 'Chief of Staff' in the Prime Minister's Office where his role was to decide on various important matters related to office affairs.

"Personally he had agreed to leave the corporate sector to serve the government as his national service," Najib said adding that Azlin had worked with dedication, trust and got along well with everyone.

"His death will be a great loss for me," added Najib.