FELDA Global Ventures Bhd welcomes the new Pakatan Harapan government’s plan to leave the running of the government-linked company to professionals, said CEO Zakaria Arshad.

“I cannot share the details now but I support the new government that is giving the freedom to GLCs to function without political interference and leave their running to professionals,” said Zakaria outside Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur after an hour-long meeting with the Council of Eminent Persons today.

The council also suggested improvements to FGV at the meeting but could not disclose any detail, he said.

Earlier, Felda activist Mazlan Aliman was also seen arriving at the meeting with council members who include Daim Zainuddin, Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Mohd Hassan Merican and Dr K.S. Jomo. Another member, tycoon Robert Kuok, is based in Hong Kong.

Also summoned for the meeting today were Felda Investment Corp chairman Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, former director-general of Felda Hanapi Suhada and Felcra CEO Zulkarnain Md Eusope.

Over the past year, Felda and FGV were embroiled in several scandals which culminated in Zakaria’s suspension and reinstatement as CEO. 

In the midst, political appointee Mohd Isa Samad was also replaced by Shahrir Samad as Felda chairman. 

Apart from the boardroom tussle, Felda was also embroiled in the transfer of a valuable piece of land in Jalan Semarak to a developer and overpriced purchases of hotels in London by Felda Investment Corp. All that happened under Isa’s watch. 

Although the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigated Isa, no charges have been brought against the former Umno vice-president and Negri Sembilan menteri besar.

Yesterday, the council met the CEOs of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail and East Coast Rail Link projects, Mohd Nur Ismail Mohamed Kamal and Darwis Abdul Razak, for details on the mega-projects. – May 18, 2018.