SEGAMAT: Felda has welcomed the changes made at Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV), including the appointment of a new top leadership, which it said is a positive move.
Felda’s chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad said the announcement by the government would hopefully enable FGV to move toward better corporate governance that are in line with the regulations.
“We hope FGV would be able to remedy everything that is wrong with the company. What is important is the changes at the top because once that happened, the effect can be seen at all divisions and levels.
“For that reason, I welcome the changes and see it as a positive move. Hopefully we (Felda) would be able to join FGV by having our representatives in the board of directors soon,” he said.
Shahrir was speaking to the media after attending the Felda Ihya Rahmat Ramadan programme at Felda Tenang here today.
Also present were Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong and Tenang assemblyman Mohd Azhar Ibrahim.
When asked about the situation regarding the three directors that Felda wants on the board of FGV, Shahrir said the matter being resolved and that Felda is waiting on the on-going enquiry process being conducted against FGV chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad.
“As the special shareholder, the government have three representatives, namely the chairman, the CEO and a director. What we are asking is for Felda to have three representatives in FGV.
“It is now in the hands of FGV’s board of directors but I believe they would see from the corporate best practices and governance, that Felda deserves to have three representatives in FGV,” said Shahrir.
He also lauded the appointment of Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob as the new chairman of FGV, which he said is the perfect choice given his (Sulaiman) experience as a former member of Felda’s board of directors and in his role as director-general with the Economic Planning Unit.
“We now have someone who has a lot of experience and background in Felda as FGV chairman. Sulaiman’s appointment is to ensure continuity between the previous and current chairman and to ensure that Felda’s voice and spirit would continue to be heard,” said Shahrir.
He also praised the efforts of Datuk Idris Jala in resolving the FGV crisis.
“At the moment, he has successfully completed the mandate that was asked of him. From now on, I hope anything involving FGV should be left to the company to resolve.
“I hope the new chairman would carry out his duties to the best of his ability especially in regards to the enquiry involving the four FGV officers. The ball is now in FGV’s court,” said Shahrir.