Remembering Taib Andak, the man who helped build Felda

The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) celebrated a major milestone this year when it marked its 70th anniversary.

Since its establishment on July 1, 1956, the government agency has transformed Malaysia’s rural landscape, opening up land, creating livelihoods and giving generations of families the chance to build better lives.

That legacy was shaped by pioneering figures who helped turn Felda’s early vision into reality. Among the most important was the late Taib Andak (1916-1997), its first Malayan chairman, whose leadership helped lay the foundations for its success.

Taib was regarded by many as a visionary leader and dedicated public servant. To those who knew him personally, he was also a warm friend, respected colleague and, above all, devoted family man.

His eldest daughter, author and cultural activist Kalsom Taib, remembers him as a man of great honesty who approached his work with a strong sense of duty.

“During Hari Raya, our family would often receive hampers from clients. As children, we were excited because there were chocolates in them.

“But my father would not accept any of them – he would scold the men and make them take everything back. His integrity would not allow him to accept them,” Kalsom, 84, told FMT Lifestyle.

Born in Parit Bakar, Johor during World War I, Taib built a distinguished career in public service, rural development and the corporate sector. His defining role came in 1958 when he was appointed chairman of Felda, succeeding D E M Fiennes.

The agency flourished during Taib’s 13 years at the helm, with more than 100 land schemes established across the country. Most notably, the Felda Taib Andak scheme in Kulai, Johor, became Felda’s first oil palm settlement and was named in his honour.

Taib’s contributions extended well beyond Felda. In 1969, he was appointed chairman of Malayan Banking Bhd (Maybank) and served on the boards of major companies including Sime Darby and Federal Flour Mills.

Kalsom remembers accompanying her father as he travelled around the country to help establish Felda land schemes. He only received a driver later in his career, she recalled, so he would often make the long journeys himself.

“I would accompany him as he drove to these places. It wasn’t like today, where we have modern roads and rest stops. We had to travel along such long and winding roads,” Kalsom recalled.

“I would chat with him to help him stay awake as he drove. Sometimes, he would be so tired that he would stop to take a nap, and I would watch over the car.”

Kalsom describes her father as a man who did his best to instil strong values in his children. Among the most important lessons she learnt from him were to speak up when something did not feel right, and to be grateful for what she had rather than complain about what she did not.

Taib was particularly dedicated to serving then prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, with whom he shared a close friendship.

“Razak wanted to create jobs for the jobless, land for the landless. He had the vision and my father helped to execute it. They worked very well together.”

While writing her father’s biography, “Taib Andak: In A Class Of His Own” (2008), Kalsom attended a reunion of Felda settlers.

There, she learnt that the opportunities created through Felda had enabled many settlers to send their children to university, with many in turn going on to pursue successful careers.

For her, this was the most meaningful and enduring part of her father’s legacy: the opportunities he helped create continued to transform lives long after his work was done.

Kalsom added, however, that her late father would probably have been saddened by the controversies Felda has faced over the years. Once regarded as a model of land development, she believes the agency is now a shadow of what it once was.

According to her, Taib strongly believed in leading by example and keeping political appointments out of Felda. She believes the departure from these principles has affected the government agency’s performance over the years.

“My father never went to any sophisticated business courses like they have now; yet he was able to lead Felda to success,” Kalsom said in reflection.

“I think it’s because he had a strong value system, which is lacking today. So, we need to follow his example.

“We have so many modern advancements today, but what’s the point if we don’t have our values?”

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