Dato’ Haji Ramlee Bin Haji A Rahman, 58, a distinguished figure and inspiring leader, has taken the helm at Permodalan Darul Ta’zim Sdn. Bhd. (PDT) (Group), bringing with him more than three decades of extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. Prior to this appointment, he had held leadership roles in various Johor State Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) involved in diverse industries such as property investment, real estate, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, oil and gas, utilities, and infrastructure development.

Dato’ Haji Ramlee earned his Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration (Hons) from the Northern University of Malaysia before obtaining his Master’s in Science in Land Administration and Development from the University of Technology Malaysia. He has further enhanced his leadership skills through prestigious programs including High-Performance Leadership Programme at Oxford University in the United Kingdom, Negotiation Strategies: Building Agreement Across Boundaries from Harvard Kennedy School, Executive Education, University of Harvard, USA and Corporate Governance: Value Creation for Owners and Directors from INSEAD Europe, Fontainebleau, France.

Starting his career as a civil servant, Dato’ Haji Ramlee’s responsibilities included Administration, Socio-Economic Planning, Rural and Urban Development, Policy Making, and Human Resources as well as expertise in Land Administration Development.

His impressive performance led him to hold various positions in Municipal Council, Land, and District Offices. Due to his vast experience and proven track record, he was appointed to lead the Johor Deputy State Secretary (Development) for the Johor State Economic Planning Division, which is one of the imperative sectors of the government.

Dato’ Haji Ramlee’s expertise in the water industry also earned him an invitation to lead the Johor State Delegation to the US for Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) in 2021 where he was honored as one of the event’s speakers. He also led the Johor State Delegation for Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) in 2022. In recognition of his many contributions to the field of Public Administration and Corporate Management, the Faculty of Management, University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) has recently appointed Dato’ Haji Ramlee as an Adjunct Professor, a title he continues to hold to this day.

Dato’ Haji Ramlee currently serves as the President & Group Chief Executive of Permodalan Darul Ta’zim Sdn Bhd (PDT) since 1 September 2021. Additionally, he has been the Chief Executive Officer of Johor Biotechnology and Biodiversity Corporation (J-Biotech) from 2 October 2022 to 31 December 2023. He also took on the role of Chief Executive Officer of YPJ Holdings (YPJH) from 23 April 2024 until 30 September 2024.

A meticulous person by nature, Dzulkifly embarked his journey with a Diploma in Accounting before graduating with distinction with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He began his career as an auditor at a first-tier accounting firm, where he established a strong record of fostering cross-functional partnerships to achieve outstanding outcomes. He later served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of a statutory body, further honing his leadership capabilities.

From 2007 to 2013, Dzulkifly was appointed by the State Government of Johor and the Prime Minister’s Department to provide advisory services. His work focused on strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing Johor’s global standing, particularly through the successful development of the Oil and Gas industry in Pengerang.

Dzulkifly’s expertise as an auditor, paired with his extensive knowledge across diverse sectors, including agriculture, investment instruments, property management, tourism, utilities (water and wastewater), oil and gas, manufacturing and construction has allowed him to make significant contributions to these initiatives.

In January 2014, Dzulkifly joined Permodalan Darul Ta’zim, where he currently serves as Chief Finance Officer (CFO). He also holds several board memberships across different companies, bringing his insight and strategic leadership to each. Dzulkifly is a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) and contributes his expertise as a member of the Internal Audit Committee at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). Additionally, he has enriched his leadership capabilities through the High-Performance Leadership Programme at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Firdaus Samad is an accomplished executive with over a decade of experience in legal, corporate governance, and strategic advisory roles. He currently holds the position of Executive Director of Corporate Advisory at Permodalan Darul Ta’zim (PDT), where he oversees a range of corporate commercial transactions, including retail, ventures, legal compliance, corporate restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. His expertise ensures that PDT operates effectively within regulatory frameworks while remaining competitive across diverse sectors.

In addition to his leadership at PDT, Firdaus also serves as Non-Executive Director at PDT Assets, a company entrusted with managing strategic assets on behalf of PDT, focusing on unlocking and maximizing their long-term value.

Firdaus began his career in law and was admitted to the Malaysian Bar as an advocate and solicitor. During his tenure at a first-tier legal firm in Malaysia, he gained substantial experience in litigation and arbitration, particularly in the areas of construction law, corporate law, commercial disputes, and employment matters. He has successfully advised and represented multinational corporations, government-linked entities, and developers in high-stakes proceedings.

Committed to continuous professional development, Firdaus holds certifications in corporate governance, compliance, and integrity from leading institutions such as Harvard University, the Basel Institute on Governance, and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. He also completed the Value Creation for Owners and Directors Programme at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France, further strengthening his capabilities in strategic leadership and sustainable value creation.

He holds an Masters in Islamic Finance from INCEIF – The Global University of Islamic Finance. His postgraduate research explored the integration of governance, Shariah compliance, and regulatory best practices, with particular emphasis on the implications of Section 17A of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act for Islamic financial institutions.

Passionate about strategic growth, partnership development, and ethical governance, Firdaus brings a multidimensional perspective to every role. His leadership continues to drive impactful outcomes that contribute not only to business excellence but also to broader economic and institutional development.

Azman is a highly accomplished professional with a strong academic foundation in civil engineering and an extensive career spanning engineering, property management, oil & gas and corporate commercial strategy. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering (Hons) and has dedicated his career to delivering high-impact outcomes across diverse sectors. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Strategic Development, Azman is responsible for shaping and executing corporate strategies focused on sustainable growth, business restructuring and long-term value creation. His core responsibilities include developing high-value strategic partnerships, optimizing monetizable assets and implementing transformation initiatives that drive organizational excellence. With an entrepreneurial mindset, he continues to create innovative business models and partnerships that strengthen the organisation’s competitive edge.

In addition to his primary role, Azman also holds key leadership positions as a Director of PDT Oil & Gas Services and Alternate Director of Pengerang Independent Terminals, a prominent joint venture between Dialog Group, Petronas and Vopak, one of the world’s leading independent tank storage companies. These roles expand his influence within the energy sector, where he provides strategic oversight and contributes to the development of critical infrastructure and services supporting Malaysia’s oil and gas industry. Azman’s extensive expertise in property management and commercial negotiations is complemented by his strong technical grounding in civil engineering. He continues to serve as a trusted advisor, providing professional engineering expertise and technical guidance to state agencies, consultants and the public. His oversight responsibilities include managing, reviewing and assessing the work of consultants, contractors and facility operators to ensure quality, compliance and operational efficiency.

In 2016, he completed the prestigious “Creating Collaborative Solutions: Innovations in Governance” program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, further strengthening his capabilities in leading complex projects, fostering cross-sector collaborations and driving governance innovations. Azman is widely recognised as a visionary leader with a proven track record in aligning engineering excellence with strategic business objectives, delivering sustainable growth, and building strong partnerships that advance industry and community development.