AHMAD Jazlan Yaakub, axed as Felcra Bhd chairman when the unity administration terminated all political appointees at government-linked companies (GLCs) in December, has been reinstalled.

The reappointment of the Kelantan Umno chief, who was first selected for the position in October 2021, was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi when introducing candidates for the Umno polls today.

After getting the chop, Zahid immediately reappointed Jazlan, but it was put on hold by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Zahid made light of the hold-up, saying it was part of efforts to streamline GLCs, and that Jazlan’s reappointment had been approved by the prime minister.

Zahid defended Jazlan’s reappointment by painting him as the best person for the job. Jazlan, he said, had steered Felcra and its subsidiaries to achieve “great performances”.

Last week, Zahid courted controversy when he announced former Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as the new Mara chairman. Like Jazlan, Asyraf is from Kelantan Umno.

Yesterday, civil society groups said Anwar should not allow the practice of appointing politicians to GLCs to continue under his watch. Commenting on Asyraf’s appointment, Anil Netto of reform movement Aliran said Anwar could have chosen someone with financial expertise to handle Mara – a GLC with billions of ringgit in its coffers.

“The same was practised by previous governments and we are copying it,” said Netto.

Bersih chairman Thomas Fann said Anwar should not allow such a practice to continue under his watch.

He said the appointment smacks of political patronage, a scourge that has plagued the country for decades. – March 15, 2023.