KUALA LUMPUR: The Plantation and Commodities Ministry is reviewing its agencies for overlapping functions ahead of any potential mergers, says Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani (pic).
It wanted to ensure that its agencies’ functions remained relevant and prevent overlapping responsibilities and roles.
“We are currently studying the potential for agency mergers. For example, if there are two or three small agencies, we might consider consolidating them.
“If an agency is no longer relevant, perhaps we will hold an engagement session with the staff involved, whether to place them in another agency that we feel requires additional staff,” he said.
There are currently 15 agencies and councils listed on the ministry’s website, including the Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Malaysian Rubber Board, Malaysian Timber Industry Board and Malaysian Cocoa Board.
Johari, who is also the Titiwangsa Member of Parliament, was speaking to the media after officiating the ‘Jelajah Peduli Ummah: Ummah Bantu Ummah Sejahtera Insan Al-Falah’ programme at the Desa Pandan Flats, on Sunday (Oct 27).
He added that his ministry will also study the implications for agencies which have retired staff, who will be placed in other agencies if the move occurs.
On Oct 22, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, during the Minister’s Question Time session in the Dewan Rakyat, said that the government had decided to establish a Special Committee on the Rationalisation of Federal Statutory Bodies, including Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLBG), to address the duplication of functions in statutory bodies and government-linked companies (GLC). – Bernama
