From Felda deputy DG to 'paper-cutting boy'?

There is a price to pay for opposing the controversial appointment of former UMNO leader Isa Samad to head the Felda cooperative, and for Felda's deputy director-general, it comes in the form of a demotion to the post of 'paper cutting boy' in the Prime Minister’s Department.

According to PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar , this was Abidin Abdul Rahman's fate, who as secretary of Koperasi Permodalan Felda, objected to Isa’s appointment as KPF chairman because the former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar was not a member of the cooperative.

Critics claimed that Isa’s status as KPF chairman violated Section 43 of cooperative rules and regulation which state that only Felda settlers, their families and Felda permanent employees could become KPF's members.

“I am told that Felda’s management has been notified that the decision to transfer Abidin came from the prime minister himself,” claimed Mahfuz, the Pokok Sena member of parliament.

Mahfuz questioned the motive of the transfer which took effect on March 1, saying it was an insult to Abidin.

“(Prime minister) Najib Razak must give an explanation, why an officer with Jusa B rank is now put under his department to undertake paper cutting on Felda’s issues,” he said.

Abidin’s former boss, Felda director general Dzulkifli Abdul Wahab, also suffered a similar fate for going against Isa.

Last year, Mazlan Aliman, chairman of whistleblower group National Felda Settlers’ Children Association, or ANAK, said Dzulkifli was forced to go on a nine-month ‘leave of absence’ to further his studies under a directive from Najib.

-Harakahdaily