KUALA LUMPUR — Investigations and disclosures into governance issues involving several government-linked agencies, including the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) and Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), are not acts of political retaliation or driven by envy and vengeance, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said such actions were part of his responsibility as a leader to ensure the country’s administration remained guided by the rule of law and protected from misconduct, Bernama reported.
“Don’t politicise this. Think about it. I am not the one conducting the investigations; that is the responsibility of the enforcement agencies. The decision to prosecute is made by the Attorney General, and they have teams that scrutinise every case. The judges are the ones who decide the sentences.
“The government has no choice but to ensure that public funds are properly managed. Allocations and spending may increase, but if there are leakages and losses, it is the people at the grassroots who suffer — farmers, fishermen and padi growers,” he said during the closing ceremony of the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Show (MAHA) 2026 here today.
The prime minister, who is also finance minister, pointed to FELDA as an example, highlighting its former status as one of the world’s largest plantation organisations.
“This concerns agriculture and plantations. FELDA is one of the institutions we are proud of. If it is managed well, the returns go to the settlers. If it is poorly managed, the settlers are also the ones who bear the consequences and hardship. So, do not take lightly our efforts to put things right.
“Every year, the Finance Ministry has to provide RM980 million in funds for FELDA to service its debts arising from losses. Why? Because of weak management and the practice of taking what belongs to the people by those entrusted with responsibility,” he said.
Anwar added that further disclosures involving governance issues in FELDA’s management would be made in the coming weeks.
He stressed that efforts to address weaknesses in public institutions were aimed at protecting the interests of ordinary Malaysians and ensuring government resources were managed responsibly. – September 6, 2026