All We Can Tell You About Your New FINAS Pengerusi, Dato’ Mohd Khusairi Bin Abdul Talib

As most of us know by now, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has officially left her relatively short tenure at the top of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS). She has instead been replaced by Dato’ Mohd Khusairi Bin Abdul Talib, the Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (or State Assemblyman) of Slim River, Perak.

Mohd Khusairi was elected on September 21 as the new Chairman of FINAS by our recently-appointed Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak, who himself stepped into position after the much-publicised cabinet reshuffle on July 28.

The same day Mohd Khusairi took his place as the new chairman of FINAS, he made several remarks about the state of the local filmmaking industry. He believed that weak numbers at the box office are due to “nonsensical” scripts which lead to viewers feeling “cheated” by a film’s publicity.

Mohd Khusairi further mentioned that he is looking into a way to improve the welfare of the 30,000-odd members of the local film industry, most of whom are freelancers. He also hopes to review employer conduct in the industry upon noting that some still have not established a minimum wage system.

Aged 54, he holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) degree from University Kebangsaan Malaysia. He is married with four children and he resides with his family in a double-storey terrace in Taman Wangsa Setia, Tanjung Malim.

According to Bloomberg, Mohd Khusairi Bin Abdul Talib served as the Managing Director of Goldana Corporation Sdn Bhd (Publishing/Landscaping) from 1990 to 1998, Director of Gedung Karya (M) Sdn Bhd (Publishing) from 1995 to 1997, Director of Hala Pertama Sdn Bhd (Production) since 1997, Chairman of Ladang Lekir Sdn Bhd since 1998, Director of Tentiew (M) Sdn Bhd (Publishing & Management) from 1999 to 2000, and Non-Independent & Non-Executive Director of Majuperak Holdings Bhd since 14 August 2012.

Mohd Khusairi has cropped up in mass media several times earlier in the year — he last made headlines for publicly Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in connection with the 1MDB incident.

As the chairman of Kelab Penyokong Kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BNBBC), Mohd Khusairi in July urged authorities to crack down on individuals responsible for the leaked government documents which led to the Wall Street Journal and Sarawak Report‘s gaining sensitive information on 1MDB. He also quoted popular Malay proverb harapkan pegar, pegar makan padi in his statement.

Mohd Khusairi will serve for two years, until 8 September 2017.