KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 11): Pertama Digital Bhd (formerly Sinotop Holdings Bhd) today announced the appointments of two new directors to its board as the investment holding company intensifies efforts to challenge the mobile and digital space related to e-government services.

In a statement to Bursa Malaysia today, the group said the two new directors are independent non-executive director Datuk Dr Suhazimah Dzazali and executive director Sabri Ab Rahman.

According to the group, Suhazimah has spent almost 35 years in public service, last holding the post of deputy director general (ICT) or government chief information officer in the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department.

"She is also previously the public sector ICT consultant (information security management) and was responsible for several transformative programmes in the Malaysian government including the computerisation and modernisation of the Immigration Department," said Pertama Digital.

She has also been recognised as among the World's 100 Most Influential People in Digital Government 2019 (by the entrepreneur-government cooperation platform Apolitical) and as the Information Security Professional of the Year 2013 (by Cyber Security Malaysia — Awards, Conference & Exhibition), according to the group.

Meanwhile, the group said Sabri has worked in several industries including banking and finance, automobile, outdoor advertising, TV programme production and distribution, trading and sales and broadcasting.

"He has been actively involved in the development of private television operations in Malaysia since the inception of TV3, which subsequently acquired Metrovision in 1996 and was involved in consolidation of the TV3 group into Media Prima Bhd in 2000.

"In that same year, Sabri founded DAPAT Vista (M) Sdn Bhd (in which Pertama Digital has invested) to expand government services through mobile technology," said the group.

As an executive director of both Pertama Digital and DAPAT Vista, Pertama Digital said Sabri oversees the implementation of mobile and digital solutions for e-government services.

The two appointments are the latest efforts by Pertama Digital to seriously focus on its pivot to the mobile and digital space, from the previous textile business under its former name, Sinotop, said the group.

"These highly sought-after individuals in Malaysia's mobile and digital space will complement our mission to fuel impactful, inclusive gov-tech and fintech initiatives across Malaysia. They bring with them a wide range of experience and accomplishments, which are exactly what we need in our current exciting growth phase."

At noon break, shares in Pertama Digital had risen one sen or 2.82% to 36.5 sen, valuing the group at RM158.58 million. It saw some 554,700 shares change hands.