Tun Razak Foundation taps communications veteran as new CEO

The Tun Razak Foundation (Yayasan TAR) has appointed Siti Hajar Abdul Rahman as its new chief executive officer, effective 2 September.

Bringing close to 20 years of experience in corporate communications and social impact initiatives, Siti Hajar steps into the role with a focus on amplifying the foundation’s mission and broadening its community reach.

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Before stepping into her CEO role, Siti Hajar was director of funding and stakeholder communications at Think City, an impact organisation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional. She also served there as director of stakeholder management and advocacy, and as a consultant for social resilience.

Prior to that, she had a brief stint at UOB Malaysia as head of strategic communications and branding. Most of her career was spent at Star Media Group, where she rose from corporate communications executive in 2008 to head of corporate communications and social impact, holding roles as senior executive, assistant manager, and manager along the way.

Reflecting on her career trajectory, she said, “I’ve found my passion deeply rooted in causes that create positive change. Whether it was restoring a heritage building in Penang or launching a nationwide volunteerism campaign, these initiatives always energised me."

"Throughout my career, I’ve gravitated towards socially-driven organisations, from media to urban regeneration. As I step into my current role, I look forward to combining my communication expertise with the impact work we do, amplifying meaningful outcomes," she added.

At Yayasan TAR, Siti Hajar is particularly focused on enhancing the foundation’s flagship initiatives. “The foundation has a proud 50 year history of empowering close to 2,000 young Malaysians through its leadership programme. I look forward to exploring opportunities to deepen and broaden this impact by forging new strategic partnerships and refining our programmes for even greater effectiveness,” she said.

She added that 2026 will mark a significant milestone with the 50th anniversary of Tun Abdul Razak’s passing, and the foundation is planning initiatives to honour his legacy and further inspire the community.

When asked what drew her to the role, Siti Hajar noted, “What attracted me most was the chance to contribute to an established foundation and help elevate its impact even further, continuing a legacy while exploring new possibilities to serve Malaysians better.”

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