Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar said the appointment as Chairman of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) is very meaningful to him.

"This appointment is very meaningful to me considering that I had previously worked with two companies under the PNB stable, namely Maybank Group (2008-2013) and Amanah Capital Group which is now a part of MIDF Group (1994-2001).

"I promise to perform my duties to the best of my ability, with honesty and trustworthiness," he said in a statement today.

Abdul Wahid paid tribute to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the Board of Trustees, Bumiputera Investment Foundation as well as PNB Board of Directors for the trust placed in him.

He also expressed his appreciation to Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid who has contributed tremendously to PNB.

"Thank you Tun for all your contributions to PNB and the unit holders," said Abdul Wahid who was the former minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

The Prime Minister announced the appointment of Abdul Wahid as the new PNB Chairman effective Aug 1, 2016.

Abdul Wahid, an accountant by profession, had helmed Maybank after heading the reorganisation of Telekom Malaysia and restructuring of UEM Group.

During his tenure as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, in charge of economic affairs, Abdul Wahid was overseeing, among others, government agencies such the Economic Planning Unit, Statistics Department, Ekuinas, Talent Corporation and the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment Unit.