Nafas losing money everywhere, no different than poor farmers - director

A member of the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) board of directors has come forward to express his frustrations with the group.

The statement was released amid the controversy surrounding the alleged suspension of its general manager, Faris Arriffin, following allegations of fund mismanagement.

In a lengthy post, Mohamad Zamir Ghazali described the farmers’ association’s main body as failing in everything it does.

“Selling chickens is a loss. Raising chickens is a loss. Selling machinery is a loss. Building a college is a loss. Marketing agricultural products is a loss.

“Leasing buildings is a loss. Debts are piling up everywhere,” said Zamir (above), who was also a former Pakatan Harapan candidate in Batu Burok, Terengganu.

Surviving solely on fertiliser

In his statement this morning, Zamir said Nafas only survives due to its paddy fertiliser factories.

“Even that is protected. If it were open to competition, it would be at heaven’s door,” he quipped.

Previously, the board issued a statement stating that Faris, who is also the Federal Territory Amanah youth chief, had been suspended as Nafas general manager.

Nafas later denied the board's statement and said only statements through its corporate communications department are considered official.

The corporate communications department also made a police report to deny the board statement, while Faris issued a legal demand letter.

The Farmers' Organisation Registration Office stated that the general manager’s suspension could not be enforced until the registrar makes a final decision.

Corporate facade

Zamir said that despite receiving subsidies, privileges, and autonomy from the government, Nafas’ fate is not much different from that of poor paddy farmers.

The only difference, he said, is the corporate facade it tries to portray.

“Producing and selling fertilisers are exclusive. The poultry supply contract is a fixed quota. In short, the capital comes from the government. The government prepares the government. The supply chain is arranged by the government without real competition.

“Yet ironically, it still suffers losses. Ordinary citizens do business with their own money. Nafas does business with public funds. And it can still lose. It’s audacious,” he said.

Zamir emphasised that Nafas needs institutional reform to become like other national corporations, such as Khazanah Nasional, Petronas, and Guthrie.

“We want Nafas to become the National Agro Corporation.

“We don’t want our farmers to end up like GISBH members, where the wealthy ones at the top, holding director titles, flaunt their authority and uniforms as if they represent farmers.

“The reality is that the farmers below are labourers, remaining poor and struggling every day. Ask yourself, what’s the difference between this and GISBH?” he questioned.

Nafas is an entity under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry led by Mohamad Sabu, who is also the Amanah president.

It comprises 14 state-level farmers’ organisations, with 279 area-level farmers' associations representing over 900,000 members.

Nafas is involved in various business and investment activities, particularly in agriculture, and has several subsidiaries.

When contacted, Faris told Malaysiakini that Nafas is committed to corporate restructuring and business recovery.

He also said that in any organisation, there are "legacy decisions" that impact current performance.

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