The National Farmers Organization suspends the director general for bad governance

KOTA KINABALU: The National Farmers Organization (Nafas) has suspended its director general, Muhammad Faris Arriffin, over allegations of government misconduct related to the mismanagement of organizational funds.

Muhammad Faris was appointed to the post in March last year.

President Datuk Zamri Yaakob chaired a board meeting on Tuesday (Oct 22) where misconduct, including the misallocation of members’ funds, was addressed.

“The board has decided to establish a special team to conduct a comprehensive review of these governance breaches,” Nafas said in a statement on Wednesday (October 23).

At the time, Nafas said it discovered major violations, including the allocation of funds to entities unrelated to the Farmers’ Organization movement without the board’s consent.

“After the investigation, if necessary, legal steps will be taken in accordance with existing laws, and the matter will be referred to the authorities,” he added.

Muhammad Faris Arriffin was appointed Director General of the National Farmers Organization (NAFAS) in March 2023. – Facebook pix.

Nafas then said that it operates with the capital of its members, including state and area farmers’ organizations as well as individual farmers, and that financial decisions should always support the organization’s core activities .

The statement reaffirmed Nafas’ commitment to uphold government guidelines to improve governance and the reform agenda promoted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Unity Government for a Madani Malaysia.

“Nafas will take decisive action against any government lapses that could endanger the government’s objectives,” he concluded.