After Mara, another pro-Zahid Umno man returns to head GLC

Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, one of those who heeded the call by his party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in 2021 to revoke support to then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, has been reappointed as chairman of Felcra Bhd effective March 1.

The announcement by Zahid today comes just days after the deputy prime minister named another of his ally in Umno, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki to head Bumiputera economic powerhouse Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).

Zahid said the reappointment of Jazlan was due to his credibility and good performance.

"I have announced in stages the appointment of chairmen of government-related companies because the positions have been approved by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and follow the procedures contained in the appointment.

"There are no things (or) factors that are real or hidden because it is the prime minister's prerogative," Zahid said as quoted by Bernama.

Jazlan, a former Machang MP, was appointed as chairman of Felcra on Oct 1, 2021.

In 2021, Jazlan became the second MP from Umno to withdraw support for the Perikatan Nasional government led by Muhyiddin, months before the latter was toppled in a coup engineered by Zahid and jailed former leader Najib Razak.

It followed the move by the Umno Supreme Council to cut ties with Muhyiddin's Bersatu in January 2021.