The Malaysian Insight

PUTRAJAYA must stop revealing cases of wrongdoing in Felda in stages and instead take immediate action against guilty parties involved in the “disappearance” of Felda land worth millions, says PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar.

This comes as a pro-government newspaper Berita Harian reported that prime property in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur, which was owned by Felda, had mysteriously changed ownership.

Nurul Izzah said instead of merely leaking news of Felda’s scandals to the public for dramatic effect, Prime Minister Najib Razak must take responsibility and reveal the entire scale of the scandals plaguing Felda.

“Don’t make periodic revelations for the sake of hiding the damage that has been done to this Bumiputera institution in the hands of Umno,” the Lembah Pantai MP said.

“Najib must also ensure that the parties responsible for the mismanagement leading to the accumulated debts suffered by the Felda group, amounting to RM12.26 billion by the end of 2016, are brought to justice,” she told The Malaysian Insight.

The Berita Harian report on Thursday stated that the plot of land, estimated to be worth more than RM200 million, was believed to have changed ownership in 2015 under suspicious circumstances.
The transfer involved seven towers, including the iconic Felda tower being developed by Kuala Lumpur Vertical City.

Nurul Izzah said there was a lack of any clear payment structure in the sale transaction of the land, meaning that Felda is unlikely to benefit from the transaction. 

“Will this only benefit the company Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd, which is named the seller, and buyer, as well as other individuals?

“And what of the role of former Felda chairman Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, who has so far only been called for questioning by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission?

“There are several cases of corruption and wrongdoing under Isa’s leadership. Is it enough that he is just questioned, without there being a full investigation for public knowledge?” she said.

Nurul Izzah said that only Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak) and Pakatan Harapan could provide a safe future for the Felda people.

“It appears that Felda can only be saved without Umno in the picture,” she said.

“Felda, as an agency that will raise the competitiveness of the Bumiputera community, needs to be fully revamped and cleansed.

“The people don’t have the space or much time to be caught in the serial theft drama of Umno.”

Felda chairman Shahrir Abdul Samad recently admitted that there had been a loss of rights concerning the land in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur, and had lodged a police report on the matter.

On Friday, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the authorities had formed a special task force to investigate Felda’s loss of rights over the Jalan Semarak land.

He did not dismiss the possibility of calling Isa to be investigated. – December 23, 2017.