Friday 29 Mar 2024
By
main news image

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on June 22, 2017

PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad believes that he is the last director of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) to be hauled up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over alleged irregularities in company dealings and abuse of power at the plantation giant.

The former FGV non-executive chairman — who stepped down from his post on Monday amid a feud with the group’s suspended chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad, and his wife Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid, were summoned by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday to give their statements. Mohd Isa’s wife was questioned by the MACC over alleged payments made by FGV for her travel on a first-class flight.

Mohd Isa arrived at the MACC headquarters here in a Lexus sedan at 9.40am yesterday, wearing a grey suit, while his wife was clad in a light green dress. The couple were questioned by the anti-graft officials for nearly five hours, which ended at 1.30pm.

“I am the last one [summoned] after all the board members [were called], and I have given my explanation,” the Jempol lawmaker told reporters after meeting with the MACC officials yesterday.

He added that he did not know whether he would be questioned again by the MACC.

The other FGV board members include Datuk Dr Omar Salim, Datuk Yahaya Abd Jabar, Datuk Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid, Tan Sri Dr Sulaiman Mahbob, Datuk Mohd Zafer Mohd Hashim, Datuk Mohamed Suffian Awang and Datuk Siti Zauyah Md Desa. Sulaiman was appointed acting chairman of FGV on Monday, replacing Mohd Isa, who is now acting chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

“How do I know [if I am guilty]? I replied and gave my statement based on what they asked. Whether I’m wrong or not, I don’t know. I can’t say because I don’t want to jump the gun. That is up to the MACC to decide,” Mohd Isa said.

“Whatever theories people might have, that is up to them. What I did was to reply to all questions [that] the MACC asked,” he added.

Mohd Isa also remained non-committal when pressed on the matters he discussed with the anti-graft body, only to say that it was “normal” for board members to be called up for questioning.

On his SPAD appointment, Mohd Isa said: “I only go to SPAD on the order of the prime minister. He asked me to go, I go.”

Mohd Isa’s removal as FGV chairman follows the completion of former minister in the prime minister’s department Datuk Seri Idris Jala’s assessment on the FGV crisis to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In a separate statement yesterday, MACC said it hopes to complete the investigation paper on Mohd Isa and his wife “soon” before passing it to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for further action.

“During the investigation process today (yesterday), both parties (Mohd Isa and his wife) gave their full cooperation to the MACC,” the anti-graft body said.

On June 6, the FGV board suspended Zakaria, chief financial officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha and two other senior management officials pending a probe into alleged accounting irregularities at one of FGV’s subisidiaries, Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd.

FGV shares closed six sen or 3.39% lower at RM1.71 yesterday, with a market capitalisation of RM6.24 billion.

      Print
      Text Size
      Share