Tan Sri Azlan Zainol is a prominent Malaysian business figure who has served as chairman of several publicly listed companies, such as Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB), Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB), RHB Bank Bhd and Eco World International Bhd.
He is also the former managing director of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), the largest pension fund in Malaysia.
He is known for his integrity, management ability, leadership skills and his involvement in the 1MDB scandal, which he resigned in protest.
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- Full Name: Azlan bin Mohd Zainol
- Other Name: Tan Sri Azlan Zainol
- Date of birth: March 1, 1950
- Age: 72 years old (at time of death)
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Malaysia
- Nationality: Malaysian
- Occupation: Business leader, bank employee, accountant
- Height: 178 cm
- Parents: None
- Siblings: None
- Spouse: Puan Sri Laili Hassan
- Children: Four
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $1 million
Early life and education
Tan Sri Azlan Zainol, 72 years old in 2023, was born in Malaysia to unidentified parents. He grew up in an unspecified location and attended unspecified schools.
He pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, where he qualified as a chartered accountant.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, a Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Malaysia.
He is also a member of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers.
Personal life
Tan Sri Azlan Zainol is married to Puan Sri Laili Hassan, they have four children and six grandchildren.
He is a devout Muslim philanthropist who supports various causes such as education, health and social welfare.
He is also a trustee of Yayasan Astro Kasih, an organization that supports underprivileged communities. He enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Career
Tan Sri Azlan Zainol has had a long and distinguished career in finance spanning over four decades.
He started his career as an audit director at Razak & Co. in 1975 before joining Maybank Finance Bhd as an executive director in 1977.
He then became the general manager of Kwong Yik Finance Bhd, overseeing the commercial banking and finance affairs of several companies. In 1980, he joined BDO Binder as a partner until 1982.
He then moved to AmFinance Bhd as CEO. He then became CEO of AmBank Bhd, where he was responsible for the strategic direction and operations of both entities.
He left AmBank in 2001 to join EPF as managing director, a position he held until his retirement in 2013.
During his tenure at EPF, he transformed the pension fund into a diversified and global investor, with overseas investments growing to US$6 billion (RM26 billion) in 2013.
He also launched various initiatives to enhance services and benefits for EPF members, such as i-Akaun, e-Pengeluaran and Simpanan Shariah.
After retiring from EPF, Tan Sri Azlan Zainol continued his career journey as chairman of several publicly listed companies, such as MBSB, MRCB, RHB Bank and Eco World International.
He also holds directorships in companies such as Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd, Jardine Cycle & Carriage Limited (Singapore), RHB Holdings Hong Kong Limited and Tokio Marine Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd.
He is also the chairman of Amanat Lebuhraya Bhd, the concessionaire of the North-South Expressway.
He is widely respected for his expertise, experience and leadership in the corporate world and is often sought out for his views and advice on a wide range of issues.
Death
Tan Sri Azlan Zainol passed away on 12 January 2023, at the age of 72. He died at Assunta Hospital in Petaling Jaya, where he was believed to have been receiving treatment for some time.
His body was taken to his family home at SS1, Kg Tunku, and then to the Saidina Abu Bakar Mosque in Jalan Ara, Bangsar for prayers.
He was buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery the following day. His death was mourned by many, including family, friends, colleagues, associates and admirers who paid tribute to his contributions and achievements.
Argumentative
Tan Sri Azlan Zainol is involved in one of the biggest controversies in Malaysia’s history, the 1MDB scandal, which shocked the country and the world.
He was appointed director of 1MDB, a state investment fund, in 2009, alongside other prominent figures, such as Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh, Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and Low Taek Jho, commonly known as Jho Low.
He also chaired 1MDB’s audit committee. However, he soon discovered that 1MDB was involved in questionable transactions and arrangements, such as a joint venture with PetroSaudi International, the diversion of funds to Good Star Ltd, and the valuation of paper assets invested by PetroSaudi.
He and Bakke were the only directors to raise doubts and concerns about the feasibility and authenticity of the investments and questioned the role and influence of Jho Low, who was said to have acted on behalf of then prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. They also protested that 1MDB did not take the board’s views seriously and only followed instructions “from outside”.
As a result, Tan Sri Azlan Zainol resigned in protest against 1MDB on 11 January 2010, following Bakke’s resignation in October 2009. He later testified at Najib’s corruption trial, revealing details of his involvement and resignation from 1MDB.
He also expressed regret and disappointment over the scandal, which he said had tarnished the country’s reputation and caused great public loss.
Social media
- Instagram Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
Net worth
Tan Sri Azlan Zainol’s net worth is not publicly known, but he was estimated to have a public fortune of $1 million at the time of his death.
This is based on his stake in several companies he is involved in, such as MBSB, MRCB, Eco World International and Kuala Lumpur Kepong.
His net worth could be higher considering his other sources of income and assets.
