Succession at the NLFCS and its Future

NLFCS was set up as a co-operative. It has helped its members but the point is, it could have and should have done much, much more. It was set up, to pool small holdings together and benefit its members. This was its primary objective. There are still thousands of people working in scattered small and medium holdings especially in Perak, Selangor and Kedah. Why has the NLFCS not used its financial capability to continue buying up these small holdings and helping those still working there? It once had a pure vision and a purpose, what has happened since then? I believe it has 70,000 members. 70,000 members is a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands who continue to live in appalling conditions in small estates throughout the peninsula and whom NLFCS was set up with the express purpose to help.

It has the resources to do, so why has it not done this, its primary and basic function. Millions have been poured into Premium Nutrients and Status Point (Status Point is its other main subsidiary), and its chairman is a multi-millionaire (I have been told confidentially that all that can be done with Status Point is to continue running it as a going concern, but that is hearsay of course, as I have not personally had a chance to look at the operations of this company).

Quite a few people I know who are in NLFCS and Premium Nutrients have been there a long time, people with worries and families. Quite often they come from poor backgrounds and have achieved positions of seniority within middle management on their merits. My personal impression of them is that they don’t have the confidence to move out of whatever position they are in, to other organisations etc, however unhappy they may be. Thus they may criticise, but it is muted, under the breath. They have no intention of rocking the boat and threatening their livelihood (i.e. getting fired, and people have got fired for protesting some of the shenanigans).

The other thing I have noticed is the way people are appointed to positions where they are rivals to each other, so they undercut each other but owe their ultimate loyalty to the chairman. As I said in an earlier post, a very feudal culture. There is only one king after all. No rivals and therefore no one truly capable is allowed.

Datuk Sahadevan has been the groomed/presumed successor for some time (and he has been waiting a long time, ). I don’t know what his plans are once he takes over, (remember members your vote is your power, don’t give it away, know that NLFCS could have done much more!) but he is guilty by association as well and you can bet he will continue to protect TSS’s interest.

They have been converting some of their old plantation lands into housing developments for some time, I have no idea whether there is anything untoward happening there but would not be surprised. Anyone have any details?

The chairman and everyone on the board should declare their assets and explain their wealth and whether it was gained at NLFCS’s expense

I would definitely like to hear from anyone who can shed more light onto the organisation or who agrees and disagrees with me. Have I generalised? Simplified? Anyone think I am plain wrong? Contact me. Write in the comments section or e-mail me from my profile page.