Felda chairman must quit after poor performance, says settlers’ body

National Felda Settlers' Children's Association (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman speaking during a press conference in Cheras yesterday. He said Anak wanted Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad to step down due to poor performance. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 14, 2014.

Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad is no longer fit to lead the organisation and should step down to take responsibility for the poor performance of Felda Global Ventures (FGV) which has done badly since its listing in 2012, says the leader of the settlers.

National Felda Settlers' Children's Association (Anak) said Isa could no longer work with his subordinates, as seen from the recent suspension of Felda director-general Datuk Faizoull Ahmad for two months.

Faizoull is the second director-general to be suspended by Isa after Datuk Dzulkifli Abd Wahab, who was transferred to the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry.

Anak president Mazlan Aliman said several senior Felda officers faced uncertain futures as Isa was expected to continue taking drastic action.

"It is time that Isa and Faizoull be replaced by Felda's own children," Mazlan told a press conference in Cheras last night.

"I appeal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, enough of what Isa is doing at Felda. The top two positions should be filled by Felda's children."

"There are many who have been holding important positions within Felda for a long time. Why have they not been given the trust?"

Mazlan said Isa's service with Felda would end this month, and there would be two major positions vacant in the organisation.

"I think that it is time that Felda's children be given the trust."

Mazlan yesterday revealed an ongoing dispute between Isa and Faizoull since the past few weeks.

"It has something to do with staff appointments which were not decided by the Felda board of directors and the Public Services Department," Mazlan told The Malaysian Insider in Kuala Lumpur.

"That is only one of the reasons. There are other reasons as well."

Mazlan said this included the purchase of several assets abroad including the Pontian United Plantation estate.

"The purchase caused tension between Faizoull and Isa. The drop in the price of FGV shares has also caused several major investors to pull back their investments."

Mazlan said the major investors included the Employees Provident Fund and Kumpulan Wang Amanah Pencen.

"The withdrawals had a negative effect on FGV. This was the cause of another rift between Isa and Faizoull on how best to handle the situation."

Mazlan said during Dzulkifli's time, the latter had attempted to save FGV; but his efforts were not appreciated by Isa.

"During a board meeting, Dzulkifli had questioned how Felda was managing its RM2 billion budget as revenue had plunged by 70%.

"Dzulkifli questioned where was Felda going to find sufficient funds for a budget of RM1.8 billion when they were only receiving RM508 million annually as part of a deal between FGV and Felda."

This was one of the final disputes between Isa and Dzulkifli prior to his suspension and transfer.

"With all the goings-on in Felda, Najib can no longer keep silent and needs to take immediate steps to save FGV."

Felda's shares are now at RM2.60, a far cry from the RM4.55 when it first listed in 2012, the second biggest listing of that year after social media giant Facebook.

- TMI