The appointment, which took effect on June 7, followed the retirement of Abdullah Zainal a day earlier, Risda said in a statement.

Zainal, who holds a bachelor’s degree in law from the International Islamic University Malaysia, has extensive experience in the fields of judiciary, legal, policy and operations, including in the corporate sector, both locally and abroad.

“His vast experience and excellence in various important positions in numerous organisations, including Risda, make him the ideal candidate to lead the agency to a new phase in the development of rubber smallholders in the country,” the statement said.

It said it was during Zainal’s tenure as CEO of Kumpulan Risda Holdings Sdn Bhd, a post he had held since 2020, that the company was able to make a profit of RM53.3 million, the highest ever.

Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the rural and regional development minister, presented the appointment letter to Zainal in Putrajaya yesterday.