PM'S EXCEPTIONAL COMMITMENT TO MAKE FELDA SHINE GLOBALLY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 (Bernama) -- The Federal Land Development Authority
(Felda) has found Prime Minister Najib Razak to be exceptionally committed in
seeing the land development authority consolidate itself at the national level
and spread its wings globally without neglecting the basic activity for which it
was set up.

With the recent launch of Felda Global Ventures Holdings (Felda Global),
Felda is set to be a global industrial player besides turning its land schemes
into a food warehouse capable of producing crops on a large scale.

Felda chairman Dr Mohd Yusof Noor said Felda officers and staff were
excited over the latest idea of Felda wanting to spread its wings abroad.

He said they were seen to have begun enhancing their personality to be able
to compete with global players from Canada, the United States, India, the Middle
East and China.

"I think this (commitment) has given another boost to the management of the
group. It has injected a new spirit into Felda to be a strong player in the
industry, both at the national level and abroad.

"I can see that deep down Najib wants to strengthen what he has inherited
from his father. I think this has been most evident in the 100 days that he has
been the prime minister," he told Bernama.

He said Najib had always stressed on the importance of the modernisation of
Felda and had repeatedly reminded the institution to continue with the process.

Najib's commitment to introduce Felda to the world was evident when he spent
time to meet with Felda's overseas partners during the launch of Felda Global
Ventures Holdings.

The prime minister had put into practice a performance-oriented working
principle where action produced results quickly, if not immediately.

"This is Najib's dream, to hold to the 'glokal' concept where Felda will be
strong at the local (national) level and expand at the global level. We can
really feel this," he said.

Felda was established by Najib's father and the country's second prime
minister, the late Abdul Razak Hussein, on July 1, 1956, with the aim of
lifting the Malays out of poverty and teaching them to be independent in
operating the giant organisation.

From a modest beginning, it has developed 317 land schemes of 479,765
hectares nationwide with 112,635 settlers.

With 43 subsidiaries and an annual profit reaching billions of ringgit,
Felda is now the largest land development agency in the world.

Dr Mohd Yusof, who has led the institution from July 2001, gave the
assurance that over 22,000 Felda staff throughout the country were ready to move
ahead in tandem with the changes introduced by the country's sixth prime
minister.

"When it was established, no one believed that Felda would be successful.
There were doubts, not only among the government officers but also among the
public," he said.

But with experience and a clear direction and the determination shown by a
serious Razak, what seemed impossible became possible, he added.

"If that could happen during Razak's tenure, it can also happen now. I think
that with a clear objective and viable plans, the whole machinery would adopt
the changes for implementation," he said.

Dr Mohd Yusof said three new policies introduced by Najib -- 1Malaysia,
restructuring of Bumiputera equity and the economic liberalisation measures --
showed that the prime minister was determined to effect changes in the
community.

"It proves that he must have had big plans all lined up for the country even
before he took over the leadership," he said.

However, the former United Malays National Organisation (Umno) Supreme
Council member said there would be mixed reaction to the changes -- just like
when former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad proposed the building of the KL
International Airport and Putrajaya and production of the national car, Proton
Saga.

"We have seen how Dr Mahathir succeeded despite all the challenges that came
his way and I think Najib has the same elements to succeed too.

"There is nothing wrong if he gets negative reaction, but every plan with a
big impact on the people should be explained from time to time by using the most
effective machinery.

"Over the past 100 days we have seen three major changes or policies
introduced and I'm sure there are more to come," he said.
-- BERNAMA