Tan Sri Dr. Ismail Bakar

Tan Sri Dr. Ismail bin Haji Bakar is an elite Malaysian administrator who reached the apex of the nation’s public sector as the 14th Chief Secretary to the Government (Ketua Setiausaha Negara – KSN). With a career spanning over three decades in public policy, fiscal management, and corporate leadership, he remains one of Malaysia’s most respected voices in institutional integrity.

Key Pillars of His Legacy and Leadership

• The Civil Service Apex: As the 14th KSN (2018–2019), he spearheaded critical reform measures aimed at improving accountability, modernizing public delivery systems, and optimizing state governance frameworks.

• Mastery of Fiscal Policy: A seasoned financial strategist, he served in high-profile roles within the Ministry of Finance for over 20 years, culminating in his appointment as the Secretary-General of the Treasury. He also held the position of Director of the National Budget.

• Cross-Ministry Leadership: His executive acumen guided several key ministries as Secretary-General, including the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry, alongside serving as the Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) for the Ministry of Defence.

• Global and Corporate Governance: He brought Malaysian expertise to the international stage as a Senior Advisor to the World Bank in Washington, D.C. Post-retirement, he continues to shape key sectors, serving as the Chairman of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, and Deputy Chairman of Johor Corporation (JCorp).

• Academic Excellence: He balances his administrative legacy with stellar academic credentials, holding a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Malaya, alongside an MBA and a PhD in Politics from the University of Hull, UK.