There are strong rumors the present head of the State
Property Management and Privatization Board in the State Property Committee
(SPC), Kh.Kherlen, would soon replace D.Sugar as SPC chief. A decision will be
taken only after the Prime Minister returns from his foreign visit, but the
talk is that Sugar has realized his days are numbered and is trying to prepare
the ground for T.Ganbold, once the Chief of the Black Metal Factory in Darkhan,
to succeed him. However, the appointment is always political and the
Secretary-General of the MPRP, U.Khurelsukh, strongly favors Kherlen.
No formal charges have been laid out against Sugar who
has said, “Nobody can dismiss me.” He is an experienced state official and
lawyer, a former MP and also worked as State Secretary of the Ministry of
Justice. But not all his actions as Chief of the SPC were taken to be above
board. These include the way the SPC under him decided to sell to the Burkheest
Khairkhan company the 131-km railway that transported uranium from Dornod
Mardai to Russia, and the way he allowed O.Erdene, Director of
Mongolrostsevetmet, to give the Asgat
silver mine, worth USD8 billion, to Polimetall of Russia. The Asgat contract
was canceled by M.Enkhbold who was Prime Minister then. Sugar has always
maintained that he had nothing to do with the agreement. Sugar also once
declared his annual income to the Anti- Corruption Authority (ACA) as MNT6 million.
The media disputed this but Sugar did not accept the charge.
The recent issue of selection of an organization for restructuring
the MSE cannot be very important as it is believed that despite their
differences, the Prime Minister and Sugar share an agreeable relationship.
The main reason why Sugar has fallen out of favor may be his way of working and
his perceived inability to adapt himself to the changing times. Maybe the MPRP
wants its own man in the job when important appointments are to be made soon, like that of the executive management team
for the Development Bank, which will arrange for disbursement of over MNT100 billion.
