Noraini Ahmad Appointment To Boost Sustainable Agribusiness Growth

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 16 (Bernama) -- The appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad to lead the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities is expected to sustain efforts to steer Malaysia’s agribusiness sector towards more sustainable growth.

Noraini brings prior experience in the sector, having served as Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (RISDA) chair from March 2023 to January 2024.

Noraini, 58, was previously Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. She replaces Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who has been appointed Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry.

She has also held several senior portfolios, including Minister of Higher Education from March 2020 to October 2022 and Deputy Minister of Human Resources from March 2008 to April 2009.

Noraini holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Quantitative Analysis and Finance from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and a Master of Business Administration from Universiti Tun Abdul Razak. She later earned a doctorate in Development Management from Universiti Utara Malaysia in 2016.

In politics, the Parit Sulong Member of Parliament has served as UMNO Women’s chief since June 2018 and has held the parliamentary seat for four consecutive terms since 2008.

She also made history as the first woman appointed Public Accounts Committee chair, a post she held from April 2019 until March 10, 2020.

-- BERNAMA