Former Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub is to be reappointed as Felcra Berhad's chairman, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Many believed that there will be changes in Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Harapan Plus coalition government when it comes to political appointments to GLCs, government companies and agencies, and so we were happy when we read 'Service of political appointees in GLC, GLIC, MOF Inc terminated with immediate effect'
But, sadly with the appointment of MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, who lost in GE15 and is the BN Kelantan BN Chief - it looks like what this Pakatan Harapan Plus government was saying was that they will remove all political appointees of the old government - and replace them with NEW political appointees from this PH-BN-GRS-...parties. So, we are back to square one again ...losing MPs, losing ADUNs, politicians from PKR, DAP, Amanah, BN, GRS...are all coming back as political appointees again...Is this expected 'sacrifice' to maintain unity government? Or is it 'pay off' to own party key people who did not manage to stand or become MPs/ADUNs?
What we need for GLCs and government agencies are PROFESSIONALS - public servants from the relevant Ministry representing the government being appointed is OK since they are professionals...(of course, they will not receive the Director's allowances and benefits - and will continue receiving their government salaries.
One method of corruption is appoint some political party member who will receive very high wages/allowances, who will then agree to channel a percentage back to the party and members - does this happen in Malaysia?
Anwar had previously raised concern for the high wages/allowances that are being paid to CEOs, Directors, etc - which sometimes are even higher than the salary of the Prime Minister, Minister, Judges ... Remember these HIGH wages/allowances means lower profits - and so, the monies supposed to flow back to the government and then the people are reduced.
If the company pays a Director - then the loyalty to whom company or government of Malaysia?
Who appoints? The relevant Minister or Cabinet, or the Ministry(this include the senior public officers in the process)? Hopefully, Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub's appointment was at the very least vetted and approved by the Cabinet
Or should these 'political appointees' be vetted by Parliament or a Select Committee to determine the qualification and skills - of course,
Past political appointments have seen what happened to SRC, 1MDB, Lembaga Tabung Haji, MAS, FELDA and even FELCRA. The Board of Directors is responsible for all actions and omissions of the company and agencies - did the SRC Board of Directors not see what happened - when will the SRC Chairman and members of the Board of Directors be charged in court, following Najib's conviction? Did the Directors fail to do their duty as Directors?
FELCRA itself has so many problems, corruption, etc - do we not need CREDIBLE PROFESSIONALS appointed as Chairman and Directors - What has Ahmad Jazlan done to CLEAN FELCRA - so, why was he re-appointed. Better if public officers from the relevant Ministry be appointed as Chairman and/or members of the Board - they certainly know their job. A auditor from the Auditor General's office also may be a good appointee - We need people that will clean up, and improve the operations of GLCs and government controlled/owned companies.
"...The government on Monday (Oct 17) agreed to write off the debt of Felcra Bhd participants, and disburse payment amounting to RM181.5 million in 2/2022 interim profit distribution for its participants..." How did the debt arise? Why is the Malaysian government paying the debts owed by FELCRA BHD to its participants?..'
'...Felcra had only paid the participants dividends four times since starting operation about 25 years ago in the area...He said Felcra had failed to bring any form of development to the Sekuau area or improve the economic standard of residents....'
'...Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad have been ordered to enter their defence in their corruption case involving RM2.8 million related to a Felcra Bhd investment....'
No use simply replacing the political appointees of the past PN-BN Plus government with NEW political appointees from Anwar's Pakatan Harapan & coalition government partners.
For FELCRA - should we have a RCI, or maybe a Parliamentary Select Committee taking a thorough look into FELCRA - to identify the leaks, abuses, corruption, bad decisions, etc > The government of Malaysia should not be using the peoples' monies to settle debts or 'Bail Out' because of unprofessional or incompetence of political appointees especially politicians. If political appointees are competent professionals or business experts - but no party leaders, defeated MPs or ADUNs(people rejected persons),...
Or is Anwar Ibrahim still really a person with 'UMNO-BN' culture, and all his talk about REFORMASI and CHANGE are phrases just to win elections, who have misled many into believing that we will finally get better governance
DISCLOSE also how much is the salary/allowance of these political appointee Chairman and Directors.
Salary/allowance of Directors, CEOs and Upper Management should really be based on percentage of profits made, not a HIGH sum, when they fail to even make profits and suffer losses?
Ahmad Jazlan reappointed as Felcra chairman
Nation
Saturday, 17 Dec 2022 9:08 AM MYT
Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (third from right) officiating the 40th Anniversary Celebration and the 40th Annual General Meeting of Felcra Malaysia Berhad Participant Cooperative. With him are Secretary General of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry Datuk Ramlan Harun (third from left) and newly reappointed Felcra Berhad chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (second from left).
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Machang MP Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub is to be reappointed as Felcra Berhad's chairman, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"The appointment is carried out following new regulation....the formalities associated with the appointment will be carried out by ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun soon," said Deputy Prime Minister.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also also Rural and Regional Development Minister, was speaking to reporters after officiating the 40th anniversary cum annual general assembly of Felcra Malaysia Berhad’s cooperative members here on Friday (Dec 17).
Previously, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali had announced in a circular previously that all political appointments in statutory bodies at the central government level and government-linked companies would be ended immediately. - Bernama - Star, 17/12/2022
While the Kelantan BN chief appeared to have the upper hand at first, Malaysiakini found that voters in Machang are starting to open up to Bersatu Youth chief - Malaysiakini, 17/11/2022
Service of political appointees in GLC, GLIC, MOF Inc terminated with immediate effect
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has instructed the termination of political-appointed chairman and board of directors in federal statutory bodies, Ministry of Finance (Incorporated) firms, government-linked companies (GLC), and government-linked investment companies (GLIC).
In a letter signed by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali dated Dec 14, it was stated that the decision was made in accordance with the cabinet meeting on Dec 14.
"The ministers in the cabinet meeting on Dec 14 have decided that chairman and board of directors in federal statutory bodies, Ministry of Finance (Incorporated) companies, government-linked companies and government-linked investment companies that are appointed politically will be terminated effective immediately," he said.
Previously, there were calls by experts and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to do away with the practice of appointing political loyalists as board of directors and chairman to GLC, GLIC and federal statutory bodies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has also declared that he
aimed to end the practice of rewarding members of parliament with
cabinet positions in exchange for their support, adding that special
envoys will be considered only when absolutely required. - NST, 14/12/2022
Govt agrees to write off debts of Felcra participants, says Ismail Sabri
TAPAH (Oct 17): The government on Monday (Oct 17) agreed to write off the debt of Felcra Bhd participants, and disburse payment amounting to RM181.5 million in 2/2022 interim profit distribution for its participants, announced caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said he was informed that Felcra's board of directors had approved the proposal to request the Government to write off the outstanding debts of the Felcra participants' amounting to RM233.8 million for less-viable projects.
"As of December 2021, a total of 323 projects involving 22,173 hectares had been identified as less-viable projects. If the yields are low, how can they pay the debts?" the PM asked at a programme with Felcra participants, Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) smallholders, and Orang Asli at Arena Merdeka here.
However, Ismail Sabri said matters pertaining to the cancellation of the Felcra participants’ debts need to be brought to the Cabinet meeting for approval, and he hopes that it could be submitted to the Cabinet after the 15th general election.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri announced that a total of 74,949 Felcra participants nationwide will receive the 2/2022 interim distributable profits amounting to RM181.5 million.
"Payments will be disbursed in stages from today (Monday)," he said.
The PM said he was happy that Felcra managed to maintain a good performance, when it recorded an increase of almost RM51 million or 38.1% in profit compared to last year's performance.
“This proves the efficiency of the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) government in its governance of the country’s economy,” he said.
He said Felcra had succeeded in developing abandoned and less-viable land into estates owned by the participants, and congratulated the agency for raising the value of rural land.
For Risda smallholders, Ismail Sabri said assistance in the form of a one-off grant amounting to RM15,000, with RM10,000 for the purchase of equipment and RM5,000 for training purposes, had been provided for the youths.
The Government has also approved RM191 million in monsoon aid of RM600 each to be distributed in November and December for 232,319 Risda smallholders.
Ismail Sabri, who used to be the rural and regional development minister, said Risda was allocated RM3.019 billion under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).
He said Risda was also allocated RM269 million under the 12MP for entrepreneurship programmes, expected to benefit 77,183 smallholders, and expressed confidence of Risda achieving its aim to increase the income of smallholders to RM4,500 per month per family in 2025.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said that under the commercial replanting plan, involving an area of 18,667.83 hectares, 13,357 Risda participants had been enjoying good dividends.
According to him, RM73.2 million in commercial replanting plan dividends have been distributed to the participants at an average of RM5,480.38 per hectare per person for the period ended September this year.
Also present at the event were Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri
Mahdzir Khalid, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan, who is the incumbent
Tapah Member of Parliament. - Edge Markets, 17/10/2022
Sarawak villagers demand dividends from Felcra plantation
SIBU: Villagers in the Sekuau resettlement scheme have demanded to be paid dividends from a federal land agency’s palm oil operations, and called for work on the plantation to be stopped.
Village chairman Henry Kanyan Vincent Rawing said the federal government-owned Felcra Bhd had failed to pay dividends to 404 participants from 24 longhouses in the resettlement scheme.
He said Felcra had only paid the participants dividends four times since starting operation about 25 years ago in the area.
The resettlement scheme located 74km from here was created under the Rajang Area Security Command in 1972 to curb communist activities at that time.
He said Felcra had failed to bring any form of development to the Sekuau area or improve the economic standard of residents.
A police report was lodged against the Felcra management yesterday by longhouse headman, Tuai Rumah Labang Ayom, to enable investigations to be carried out by police and government officials.
He alleged that Felcra has been giving excuses for not paying dividends and that there was no agreement with the residents about it.
“This is not our problem. What we know is that we have handed over the land to be developed and if based on the excuse of no agreement between us and Felcra, then Felcra should stop operations immediately,” he said.
Felcra is scheduled to replant oil palm in Sekuau next year in the 900-hectare property. - FMT, 17/6/2022
Bung Moktar and wife ordered to enter defence over Felcra graft charges
Bung Moktar (right) and Zizie Izette have chosen to give sworn evidence in their defence. (Zahid Izzani/The Edge)
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 2): Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad have been ordered to enter their defence in their corruption case involving RM2.8 million related to a Felcra Bhd investment.
Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob made the ruling on Friday (Sept 2) after finding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case on the three graft charges Bung Moktar faces and three abetment charges Zizie faces.
“After examining the testimony of the prosecution witnesses as well as the arguments of all parties from the available evidence, I am satisfied and find that all the ingredients of the charges under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009 [against] the first accused (Bung Moktar) have been successfully proven by the prosecution to the stage of prima facie,” the judge said.
Similarly, the judge said she is satisfied that a prima facie case has been established by the prosecution with regards to the charges under Section 28(1)(c) of the MACC Act against Zizie.
Rozina said the prosecution has also proven that the funds amounting to RM2.8 million were obtained via Zizie.
This, she said, leads to the presumption under Section 50 of the MACC Act that Bung Moktar is considered to have obtained the RM2.8 million bribe as an inducement for obtaining the Ministry of Finance’s approval for a RM150 million investment by Felcra in Public Mutual unit trusts.
The judge gave Bung Moktar and Zizie three options — to testify under oath from the witness stand; to give testimony from the accused dock while not under oath, where they cannot be cross-examined; or to choose to remain silent.
Bung Moktar’s lawyer M Athimulan and Zizie’s lawyer Datuk K Kumaraendran, speaking on their clients’ behalf, said the pair will give sworn evidence from the witness stand with the prosecution having an opportunity to cross-examine them.
When asked by the judge on how many witnesses the defence was planning to call, Athimulan said they planned to call 10 witnesses, including the two accused.
The court has fixed Sept 23 for the pair to begin their defence case. Another 13 dates have also been fixed across Sept 26 to Jan 13, 2023.
The prosecution team was led by deputy public prosecutors Datuk Faridz Gohim Abdullah, Mohd Sophian Zakaria and Law Chin How.
Prior to ordering the pair to enter their defence in the case, Rozina touched on an alleged contradiction in the testimonies of two prosecution witnesses, noting that the contradictions highlighted by the defence were immaterial.
"After listening to the testimony of the 24th prosecution witness (Public Mutual agent Madhi Abdul Hamid) and the 25th prosecution witness (unit trust consultant Norhaili Ahmad Mokhtar) as well as the arguments of all parties, even though there is a discrepancy between the recording of the conversation and their oral testimony in open court, this court finds that it does not affect the charges levied against both accused.
"However, the court took note of the contradiction, and after examining the evidence of the two accused carefully, the court has accepted the other evidence of 24th and 25th prosecution witnesses presented in this court," said the judge.
The trial, which began on Jan 2, 2020, saw 30 witnesses testify and 131 exhibits tendered during the prosecution stage, which concluded on May 17 this year.
Bung Moktar, who is the MP for Kinabatangan, is charged with two counts of receiving bribes amounting to RM2.2 million and RM262,500 as gratification to obtain Felcra’s approval to make a RM150 million investment in the Public Mutual unit trust.
He is also charged with receiving a RM337,500 cash bribe from Norhaili under the name of Zizie for the same reason and at the same place on June 19, 2015.
Zizie, 44, faces three charges of abetting her husband in the matter at the same place, date and time.
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