Proposal to prevent FGV from falling to third party being drafted

PERMAISURI: A body concerned over the future of FGV Holdings Bhd (FGV) is drawing up a plan to prevent it from falling into the hands of a third party.

Chairman Datuk Mazlan Aliman of Majlis Permuafakatan NGO Felda (MPNF, council on a covenant of NGOs on Felda) said the proposal is being prepared by various professionals and Felda settlers.

Also involved are former FGV senior officers and they will seek ways to deal with issues such as the drop in FGV share price following the company’s poor financial performance and its huge debt pile.

He said on Dec 11 that when ready, the plan will be presented to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We are appealing to the government to consider the proposed paper which would be submitted soon. If the government can consider the proposal of a third party, purportedly Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, why not also consider a proposal by the settlers of Felda,” he told reporters at the presentation of Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP) flood contributions here.

Mazlan, who is also LPP chairman, said the government needs to consider carefully before making a decision to sell the company to third parties as this is no guarantee that FGV will be managed well and return to profitability.

In fact, he warned, if the situation worsens under the new management, this would certainly have a devastating impact on the interests and community of Felda.

“This is why, ever since Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) general election victory, I have insisted that FGV be returned to Felda. I am disappointed that after more than a year and despite the tabling of a Felda White Paper, we have not received any feedback from the government on the matter as we demanded.

“I see the move of (handing over to a third party) as being unwise and as such we are formulating a plan to resolve the problem,” he said.

On LPP, Mazlan said it is cooperating closely with the Agriculture Department to prepare a report and assess the areas affected by floods in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor.

According to him, when the report is processed, LPP will channel the assistance to the victims in the affected areas at the latest in three months.

“We have not obtained the full data for all affected areas as some areas such as Johor, Selangor and Sabah are still flooded.

“However, in the case of providing school uniforms for the children of flood victims, I have directed local LPPs to give priority to help farmers with back-to-school aid of RM150 each,” he said. – Bernama

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