Top Felda officer 'cold-storaged' at PM's Dept

The Koperasi Permodalan Felda (KPF) secretary has been exiled to the Prime Minister's Department for allegedly opposing the appointment of Isa Samad as the co-operative chairperson, according a PAS parliamentarian.

Mahfuz Omar claimed that Abidin Abd Rahman, who is also a Felda deputy director-general, has been "cold-storaged", reduced to do paper cutting for the department's library as of March 1.

The Pokok Sena MP added that Abidin was suffering the consequences of voicing out his concerns in December on the proposed appointment of Isa, as Felda chairperson, to lead KPF - a move deemed violating the co-operative rules.

The Umno assemblyperson and former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar has been Felda chairperson since January last year.

Mahfuz (right) said Abidin had said that he would only accept Isa's appointment as KPF chairperson if he is a member of the co-operative.

"And to be a member, Isa must be either a Felda settler or an operations staff," Mahfuz told Malaysiakini yesterday.

He claimed that the Felda board first suggested that Abidin be transferred to Public Services Department (PSD), but that was not possible as Felda is a statutory body while the PSD is a government entity.

'A shameful humiliating move'

Abidin was subsequently moved to the Prime Minister's Department, the politician said.

"This is an shameful move (by the government) to humiliate a government officer," Mahfuz said.

It was earlier alleged that Felda director-general Dzulkifli Abd Wahab was forced to take study leave for nine months for apparently opposing Isa's appointment.

It is also believed that both Felda top officers oppose the proposal to float Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH), in which KPF, according to the original plan, was to relinquish its (cooperative) stakes.

"These made us lose faith in the proposed plan to include KPF in the listing. We believe there is a hidden agenda behind the move," the PAS vice-president said.

It remains unclear whether Isa's appointment has been finalised, in spite of PAS-linked settlers NGO Anak voicing strong opposition against the move.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Felda, Ahmad Maslan, gave his assurance that all settlers will receive a windfall from the FGVH listing, including those who oppose it.

“The federal government will not discriminate in distributing the benefits, although a few disagreed with the listing.

"Steps have been taken to ensure the listing will go ahead and the interests of Felda settlers are protected,” the New Straits Times today quoted Ahmad (left) as saying.

He said the settlers will also not lose their bonuses after the listing, which will go ahead without Koperasi Permodalan Felda (KPF).

FVGH had earlier said that its debut on Bursa Malaysia will take place in either May or June.