by ANIS HAZIM / pic by axiata.com

CELCOM Axiata Bhd has appointed Tan Sri Dr Halim Shafie (picture) as its interim chairman effective June 2.

The appointment comes following the recent announcement by Celcom’s parent company, Axiata Group Bhd ex-president and group CEO Datuk Izzaddin Idris that he will step down from his position and resign as Celcom chairman effective May 31.

Prior to Halim’s appointment, Halim had been Axiata’s independent non-ED since November 2020 and previously served as the chairman of Smart Axiata Co Ltd in Cambodia.

“He has served in many government agencies including the Ministry of Education, Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit and the National Institute of Public Administration,” Celcom said in a statement today.

Halim was also the secretary general for the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications in 2000 and chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) from 2006 to 2009, before he became chairman of Telekom Malaysia Bhd from 2009 to 2015.

Before joining Axiata, he was reappointed as MCMC chairman for the second time from 2015 to 2018.

Celcom CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi welcomes Halim as the new chairman and looks forward to his leadership in the telco company.

“Together with the management of Celcom, we welcome Halim Shafie as our new chairman and are excited to work with him and the board.

“We look forward to his guidance and leadership in driving the organisation towards new strides and creating real value for our customers,” Idham said.