By Emmanuel Samarathisa
FORMER higher education minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh has been appointed the new chairman of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), sources tell FocusM on condition of anonymity as discussions are still ongoing.
It is understood that Idris, who is Besut MP and an Umno Supreme Council member, has accepted the offer and is awaiting a letter of confirmation.
He replaces Tan Sri Bakke Salleh who has been appointed Telekom Malaysia Bhd chairman effective May 11.
Idris’ appointment is part of an exercise by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to gift Perikatan Nasional MPs with plum jobs. PN is a loose coalition primarily consisting of Muhyiddin’s party Bersatu, Umno, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak.
Just today, three elected representatives were appointed to key positions in government-linked companies.
They are: Padang Terap MP Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Umno) as chairman of utilities giant Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Rahman (Umno) as chairman of public transport firm Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Simpang Renggam MP Maszlee Malik (Bersatu) as chairman of Mara Corp’s advisory committee.
But it is not just MPs that stand to be rewarded. Defeated electoral candidates from any of the PN parties who still carry some clout may also be in the running for such privileged jobs.
For example, former Johor menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who lost his Pasir Gudang federal seat as well as Pernas state assembly seat in the 14th general election, was appointed Boustead Holdings Bhd chairman on April 30. – May 8, 2020
