Political appointees in agricultural sector bad news, warns activist

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 7 years ago · Published on 30 Jan 2019 11:00AM · 7 Comments

Badan Bertindak Pertanian Malaysia pro tem chairman Mohd Faisal Idris says Malaysia is lagging behind its Asean peers when it comes to modernising farming. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, January 30, 2019.

THE appointment of politicians into farming-related agencies is putting food security and safety at risk, said agriculture activist Mohd Faisal Idris.

These politicians might lack an understanding of agricultural issues and are likely to mess things up, he said.

“From the aspect of food security, we worry that they do not understand what it means. Will these political appointees understand farmers, the long-term future of food safety and security? said Faisal, who is the pro tem chairman of Badan Bertindak Pertanian Malaysia (BBPN).

“Is this promise of reform (by the Pakatan Harapan government) another empty promise?”

He was commenting on the political appointments at the National Farmers’ Association (Nafas) announced by Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub last week.

Salahuddin named Alor Mengkudu assemblyman and Kedah Amanah deputy chief Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi as the new Nafas chairman.

Several other Amanah and PKR politicians also made the board as directors – Perlis Amanah chief Wan Kharizal Wan Khazim; Apam Putra state constituency coordinator Mohd Hisyamuddin Ghazali; Simpang Renggam Amanah chief and Mahkota assemblyman Muhamad Said Jonit; and Dewan Negara Senator and Shah Alam PKR division chief Dr Yaakob Sapari.

The board was suspended for six months for a restructuring exercise that ended on January 15.

Faisal told The Malaysian Insight the appointments might worsen things as the present administration appears not to have prioritised local food production.

“Will Nafas use its funds to ensure we develop technology to boost the farming sector for future food security?

“We have no food security in Malaysia at all. We import an estimated RM85 billion worth of food yearly. If the exporting countries are hit by natural disasters, we are in trouble.”

Malaysia spent RM45.4 billion on imported vegetables, fruits and meat in 2015 and the figure is still rising. – AFP pic, January 30, 2019.

Compared with other Asean countries like Thailand and Vietnam, Malaysia is trailing in the farming sector, Faisal said.

“Are we developing new seeds or breeds? No. We are so behind compared with our neighbours. Do they (the political appointees) understand this?”

Data in 2015 showed that Malaysia spent RM45.4 billion on imported vegetables, fruits and meat from 120 countries. The country also imported more than 50 types of fresh and frozen food.

Malaysia’s supply of onions, garlic, broccoli, mushrooms, peas, sweet potatoes, ladies’ fingers, tomatoes and chillies are imported from China, India, Thailand and Australia. Malaysia also depends on Africa, Australia, India, Thailand and China for fruits.

Meanwhile, 2014 data from the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) said Malaysia’s food import grew by RM12.4 billion compared with four years earlier.

Apart from Nafas, other government agencies also saw a number of political appointees by the ministry.

In October last year, Salahuddin appointed Amanah committee member Mazlan Aliman to chair the Farmers’ Organisation Authority. Mazlan is a well-known Felda activist who heads Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (ANAK).

Amanah deputy youth chief Faiz Fadzil was made chairman of the Malaysian Fishermen Development Board (LKIM).

Faisal said all the appointments raised questions on the integrity and pledges by the PH government to do away with political appointments, which was the practice of the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

Felda activist Mazlan Aliman says he was appointed to the Farmers’ Organisation Authority because of his activism as he is able to look into farmers' plight. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, January 30, 2019.

“It should not be political any more. Nafas is a business body. The government promised no more political appointments in GLCs (government-linked companies). People have heard and agreed to this promise.

“Speaking of integrity, if you fail to deliver what you had promised, then you have betrayed public trust.”

Mazlan defended his appointment, saying that he was put in FOA in his capacity as the leader of ANAK, which fights for Felda settlers and their welfare.

“What matters is how far the new government is committed in being a government for the people. 

“That’s why I was put in FOA, which is not that different from Felda. That was what the prime minister (Dr Mahathir Mohamad) thought when he put me there,” he said.

Faiz, meanwhile, said he was appointed because he was a lawyer.

“I was a professional first, a lawyer. It was also to show appreciation to the youth and to give young leaders the chance to help rebuild the nation,” the Permatang Pasir assemblyman said.

But Faisal said the appointments might be a way for Salahuddin to consolidate power in Amanah.

“To me, if these people have dignity, they should give up these appointments.” – January 30, 2019.

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Comments

  • The agriculture minister hasnt done much since the election. He is so under the radar nobody even know who he is. If Tun replaces him in the cabinet reshuffle then hopefully the new minister will look into replacing the NAFAS board with qualified professionals.

    Posted 7 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • The current and previous government have no notion of the important of food security/insecurity, all they focus is on agribusiness! There is not a single nutritionist post at the Ministry of Agriculture, whereas, in other countries, food and nutrition is is one of the department in the ministry, but in Malaysia, nil. How can you talk about food security for the population?

    Posted 7 years ago by Wan Manan · Reply

  • The MOA is quite slow in its initiatives and doesnt seem to have an understanding or the sense of urgency regarding food security issues.
    The minister is still dependent on internal data and briefing by his HODs on the status of agriculture in the country.
    He seems busy consolidating his position. At this rate we will crash if nothing concrete is done by this minister, deputy minister..
    There is an absence of check and balance in the KPIs for the minister and deputy.
    They seem to be driven by the old existing people at the ministry, who are all YES men!

    Posted 7 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

  • As Faisal said, they have to put people with capability and merits in the NAFAS board, not corporates, lawyers, political appointees etc!

    Posted 7 years ago by Kampung Boy · Reply

    • why political appointees are automatically assumed not qualified? why not see their credential first. Second, how could one govt avoid appointing appointees to oversee these agencies? who gonna be accountable if career agency head screwed up? who is suppose to monitor these agency head?

      Posted 7 years ago by Chean Ang Heng · Reply

  • Its high time Ministers Deputy Ministers Take Responsibility for their Ministries if there are No Improvement with 24 months they should be Replace by the PM. If not Malaysia will not Progress. No big issue on Replacing positions like Ministers or Deputy Ministers in this manner they have to Perform so will their Ministry and the Private Sectors.

    Posted 7 years ago by Danial Abdullah · Reply

  • If 1 or 2 is acceptable. All is not. One of the appointee lost in GE 14, almost lost his deposit but given 3 seats by the minister, nafas, PPK and Agriculture Advisory council. Another was former Selangor Agri Exco. He was dropped from the post for failure to deliver.

    Posted 7 years ago by Mohamad Pesal Idris · Reply