Following uproar on social media, the Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry today decided to delay the appointment of Mohd Najib Asaddok to the National Agriculture Advisory Council pending an internal probe.

Soon after, however, Najib announced that he was pulling out from the role altogether. 

Agriculture and Agro-based minister Salahuddin Ayub had issued a statement earlier today announcing that Najib’s appointment would be put on hold.

“Najib was appointed as an adviser based on his background as an online marketing trainer.

“However, I had a heart-to-heart discussion with him about the reports and comments on social media about his appointment as a member on the National Agriculture Advisory Council.

“He has sincerely agreed to delay his appointment to ease and allow for me, as the minister, to investigate and scrutinise the allegations made against him,” he said today.

'Bad intentions'

Shortly after, Najib announced his decision to withdraw from the position, through a statement released by his company Momentum Internet.

“To reduce the existing tension and to avoid any disturbance to the newly appointed minister, the ministry and to the Pakatan Harapan government, I humbly announce my withdrawal as a member on the National Agriculture Advisory Council with immediate effect,” he said.

Najib clarified that he had not received any payment for his appointment, and condemned those who had been “destroying his image and credibility” on social media.

He vowed to take legal action against those responsible.

“These accusations (about me) have very bad intentions, are baseless and not in line with the harmony of Ramadhan.

“They should not have been spread and we have contacted our panel of lawyers to take strict and immediate legal action on those responsible for spreading (these accusations),” he added.

Credentials questioned

Since his appointment to the National Agriculture Advisory Council yesterday, Najib has been subject to criticism online regarding his credentials.

He was likened to another marketing guru – Azizan Osman, who was previously revealed to have been touting a fake honorary PhD from Universiti Malaya.

On his own Facebook page, Najib describes himself as an “internet entrepreneur and trainer to thousands of entrepreneurs” and claims to have helped more than 15,000 people through his seminars.

He also claims to generate “millions” in revenue through online sales every year.

Salahuddin had set up the National Agriculture Advisory Council to assist the government in raising the level of national food security and agriculture exports.

The other three members on the council are Dagang NeXchange Bhd chairperson Abdul Rahman Mamat, Leong Hup International Sdn Bhd executive director Francis Lau Tuang Nguang, as well as Universiti Putra Malaysia Institute of Agriculture and Food Policy Studies director Fatimah Mohd Arshad.