The Malaysian Insight

THE ease with which Felda got back its prime piece of land in Jalan Semarak in the federal capital, transferred controversially to a private developer earlier, has only raised more questions, an analyst said.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said he cannot help but feel that the recovery was a “drama” staged to help Barisan Nasional win the 14th general election (GE14).

The dramatic announcement of Felda’s success in regaining the land rights also reflected positively on its chairman, Shahrir Abdul Samad, who has had difficulty handling several issues that have dogged him since he began his term, said Hisommudin.

Shahrir emerged as a “hero” and well poised to sell the government’s case to Felda settlers, the analyst said.

“This will also be fodder for Prime Minister Najib Razak’s campaign in the run-up to the general election.

“With this success, BN can pitch it as the government’s success and its ability to regain prime land in Kuala Lumpur,” said Hisommudin, who is also the son of a Felda settler in Najib’s Pekan parliamentary constituency.

Felda’s success in getting back the plot in Kuala Lumpur also removed an issue Pakatan Harapan (PH) and its chairman, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, could have leveraged on to pitch their case of mismanagement to settlers, a solid Umno vote bank, Hisommudin told The Malaysian Insight.

Shahrir yesterday confirmed that the agency regained ownership of several plots of land on Jalan Semarak, which had been transferred to a private company under suspicious circumstances.

At a press conference at Menara Felda yesterday, Shahrir said Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd (SPSB) returned the plots to Felda through a mutual agreement signed between the two companies.

“After all the efforts by Felda, today, on January 15, 2018, the developer SPSB voluntarily agreed to return the ownership for all 16 lots of lands to Felda without any cost and (SPSB) had also given all the documents regarding the ownership of the land to be registered again under Felda’s name,” he said.  

Shahrir then showed some slides of the grants signed by SPSB as evidence that the transfers did take place.

Last month, pro-government newspaper Berita Harian revealed that the ownership of the 66,000 sq m Felda land was believed to have been transferred in 2015 without the knowledge of board members.

According to the report, Felda did not receive a sen from the transfer of the land, which is estimated to be worth RM270 million.

The ownership transfer involved seven developments, including the iconic Felda tower being developed by Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC).

Several police reports were lodged and on January 5, former Felda chairman Isa Samad gave his statement to police investigating the land transfer scandal.

A forensic audit on the KLVC project began on January 8 by a foreign audit firm, which is expected to submit its findings within 30 days.

Shahrir said earlier that all documents required were submitted to the external auditing firm appointed by the Prime Minister’s Department.

Meanwhile, Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman asked what will happen to the KLVC project now that Felda has regained possession of its prized land in Jalan Semarak.

“If the land is returned, what is the status of the KLVC project?”

There are also other questions which needed answers, he said. 

Shahrir knew about this scandal when he was appointed Felda chairman in January 2017.

“Why did he (Shahrir) take a long time to act and expose it?”

Anak has lodged reports with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Mazlan said Anak will seek legal advice before making its next move.

Suara Generasi Ke-2 Felda group adviser Zulkefli Nordin said the authorities should expose those behind the land deal.

“It does not mean that just because the developer returned the land, the culprits behind the whole thing can get off scot-free,” he told The Malaysian Insight. – January 16, 2018.