Umno Youth slams Mat Sabu over political appointments at agro agencies

Umno Youth has criticised the assignment of politicians from Pakatan Harapan (PH) to head five main agencies under the agriculture and food security ministry, urging Mohamad Sabu, the minister in charge, to revoke the appointments in question. 

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said the appointments were against the principles of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

He said they were also against the reformasi stance championed by Anwar, who had opposed the practice of political appointments to statutory bodies and government-linked companies. 

"Even though we know that this is the minister's prerogative, the principles to which the government holds must also be taken into account," he said in an interview with Sinar Harian. 

Mohamad had named three leaders from his party to helm key agencies under his ministry, with two other chairmen each picked from PKR and DAP.

The three Amanah men include Faiz Fadzil, who was appointed to chair the Fisheries Development Authority, and Mahfuz Omar, who was named chairman of the Farmers' Organisation Authority. 

Meanwhile, a former Amanah assemblyman from Perak, Aminuddin Zulkipli, was appointed as chairman of the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority.

Two others, PKR's Azman Ismail and DAP's Sheikh Umar Bagharid Ali, were put in charge of the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute and the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board respectively.

Akmal urged Anwar to reconsider the principles at play, to continue holding to them, and to fulfil what had been promised. 

"Otherwise, I am afraid that the people will get fed up and will lose interest in national politics," he said. 

He added that Umno Youth had made the reprimand after finding that the move was wrong and in need of correction. 

He said all parties regardless of political stand should make good on their word to prevent the people from becoming frustrated. 

"If the people begin feeling like this towards the government, it means that this is a serious and dangerous issue," he added.