We seldom read news about Felcra, a government agency that manages 144,000 hectares of agricultural land (mostly rubber) for about 53,000 participants nationwide.
![]()
Felcra (Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority) is synonymous to my family, having helped my (late) father cleared the 4-ha land in Masjid Tanah when I was in my primary school, planted and watched the rubber trees grow.
It was not easy but that's how I came to know about Felcra, its function and how it has helped many kampung folks improved their living.
And for that very reason, I was perturbed by this news about its board or directors was paid in kind for 'the good job done'.
Not nice treating the agency like 'their grandfathers' property since many participants are still finding it hard to make ends meet.
Yes, I want to hear something positive from Tajuddin and other board members (or is it bored members?).
If what Nur Jazlan said is true, each and every member of the board must resign or sacked!
It was not easy but that's how I came to know about Felcra, its function and how it has helped many kampung folks improved their living.
And for that very reason, I was perturbed by this news about its board or directors was paid in kind for 'the good job done'.
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 ― Felcra Bhd (Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority) made payments in kind totalling RM133,00 to its board of directors for three years since 2010 without the Ministry of Finance's (MoF) consent, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed today.I guess Tajuddin should give an explanation and clear the air. With the price of rubber and other commodities taking a bashing over the past few years, it is not 'recommendable' for the board members be paid such a hefty amount.
Its chairman, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, said the payments were clearly a conflict of interest as it was approved by the board members themselves.
“There is conflict of interests...how can you say your performance is good and so you decide to pay yourself,” Nur Jazlan told reporters after meeting with Felcra representatives in Parliament building here.
The chairman of Felcra Bhd at the time was Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the current deputy minister of rural and agro industries.
Nur Jazlan said the PAC was dissatisfied with the explanation given by Felcra and have demanded the state agency present all the necessary documents for further investigation.
“We will see how then,” he said.
He said the current Felcra chairman, Datuk Bung Mukhtar Radin, has offered to co-operate with PAC on the matter.
The Kinabatangan MP was present to testify before the Parliamentary panel this morning.
Nur Jazlan further revealed that the MoF had initially rejected Felcra's plea for the payment to be distributed in 2008 but the state agency proceeded nevertheless.
Not nice treating the agency like 'their grandfathers' property since many participants are still finding it hard to make ends meet.
Yes, I want to hear something positive from Tajuddin and other board members (or is it bored members?).
If what Nur Jazlan said is true, each and every member of the board must resign or sacked!