17/03/2011 (The Star Online) - PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has described allegations that the stock market was jittery with the appointment of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad as Felda chairman as “baseless and irrelevant”.

“It has no bearing on the share price movements,” he said in a written reply to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut).

Lim had asked Najib for the rationale behind Mohd Isa’s appointment, questioning the latter’s credibility after he was found to be involved in money politics by Umno, and whether this would affect Felda’s good name and cause jitters in the market.

Najib said Mohd Isa’s appointment was based on his wide experience in administration, management, leadership and his good relationship with the people.

“His experience in administration, politics and community development meets the criteria for the post, which sees him directly involved in matters relating to the development of Felda and its settlers.

“At the moment, no Felda subsidiary is listed on the stock market,” he said.

Felda’s business partners, both local and overseas in countries like Pakistan, India, Singapore, France, China and Hong Kong, continued to support its business activities, added Najib.

“The demand for Felda’s primary commodity — palm oil — is strong and competitive in the international market,” he said.

Earlier in the Dewan Rakyat, Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi said it would appoint quality control and readers’ committees to ensure the number of mistakes were reduced in school textbooks.

“Members of both committees will comprise experts in various subjects,” he said in his reply to Datuk Noraini Ahmad (BN - Parit Sulong).

Noraini had asked the ministry to state the measures taken to ensure that school textbooks were devoid of mistakes.

Dr Puad said the ministry would also look into improving the work process in the publication of textbooks to avoid mistakes that could affect the students’ learning curve.

However, he added that companies publishing textbooks were also responsible in improving its quality.