‘Reshuffle FGV board to strengthen management’

KUALA SELANGOR: Gabungan Wawasan Generasi Felda (GWGF) said perhaps Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd’s (FGV) board of directors could be reshuffled to strengthen its management and enhance its performance.

GWGF chairman Tan Sri Rozali Ismail said three individuals familiar with Felda should be appointed to the board, following the appointment of Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob as chairman.

“We hope to have three representatives from Felda.

“They should be children of settlers and have professional backgrounds.

“With Felda stakeholders sitting in the FGV board, I am confident it will improve transparency in decision-making. I’m sure the confidence of the settlers towards FGV will also be restored.

“We hope Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will consider this,” he said yesterday during a breaking-of-fast event with the media and local community at the Puncak Alam mosque.

Rozali said he was confident FGV’s crisis would end soon.

“I’m sure it can be concluded because Sulaiman is an economic expert and a corporate figure with more than 38 years of experience in the corporate world and public service.

“The wisdom of the prime minister in appointing Sulaiman shows his concern in protecting the welfare of Felda settlers. The move has assured settlers that Felda will remain relevant.

Meanwhile, FGV president and chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad had been given a second extension until June 29 to reply to his show-cause letter.

In its latest filing to Bursa Malaysia, FGV said the board had agreed yesterday to grant Zakaria a second and final extension until noon next Thursday.

Bursa Malaysia, in the announcement, also mentioned that on Thursday the board had granted Zakaria an extension to submit an explanation to the show-cause letter from 4.30pm on Tuesday to noon yesterday.

“Zakaria and FGV group chief financial officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha shall continue to be on leave of absence until further notice from the board.”