COMMENT | Honestly, when they picked Mohd Isa Abdul Samad to be chairperson of Felda, what were the selection criteria?

On what grounds did Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak evaluate Isa’s credentials before appointing him as Felda chairperson? Or did Isa actually have the business acumen to become the chairperson of Felda?

Or was he picked for a specific reason, only known to the people in the corridors of power, and he has outlived his usefulness?

Isa’s credentials

Isa was the menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan for more than two decades, from April 1982 till March 2004. He was most likely one of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s men in the past.

He was only a former school teacher for five years and carries a Bachelor’s degree in Literature.

In 2000, when he attempted to compete for the post of vice-president of Umno, he lost. Others, like former Selangor menteri besar Abu Hassan Omar, former Sabah chief minister Osu Sukam and former Johor MB Abdul Ghani Othman, also lost in the vice-presidency race.

In short, Isa was already facing rejection by own his party at the turn of the century, as both menteri besar and vice-president of the party.

This former Linggi assemblyperson also yielded his post as menteri besar of Negeri Sembilan to Mohamad Hasan. He was federal territories minister for one year, until 2005.

Isa was also suspended from Umno for three years after he was found guilty of playing money politics during the Umno general assembly of 2004; therefore, his vice-presidency and his ministerial post were only for a brief stint.

Who is to blame?

Now that there is a spat between Isa and the chief executive officer of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV), Zakaria Arshad, who is to blame?

Was Isa not appointed by Najib himself? Why was Isa picked as chairperson of Felda then? Is it not right to say that Najib did not have many choices among his trusted men?

If Isa had not performed well as Felda chairperson, he should have been removed much earlier. Why was Isa not removed until recently? Perhaps, is it because Najib realised that Isa had a lot of grassroots support?

Now, it is already too late to remove Isa, as the saga between Isa and Zakaria has become public knowledge. The damage would have been done. In short, there is no point crying over spilt milk.

Najib should take the blame for not screening the candidate to sit on an important position such as chairperson of Felda.

 

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.