FELDA settlers today welcomed the arrest of former Felda chairman Isa Samad, hoping that this could be the begining of the end of their woes.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Isa earlier today over the Felda Investment Corporation’s (FIC) purchase of hotels in London and Kuching

Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan chairman Mazlan Aliman said this was good news because many problems had occured in the Felda board under Isa’s leadership since 2011. 

“We welcome the action by MACC. Like I had said many times before, the purchase of the hotels by FIC had been problematic since the start,” Mazlan told The Malaysian Insight. 

Isa was arrested by MACC this afternoon when he went to the commission’s headquarters to give his statement.

His arrest is said to be related to the MACC’s probe into the purchase of hotels by FIC in London and Kuching at above market prices. 

Mazlan hopes Isa’s arrest will be the start to solving many Felda issues. 

“The plan to rehabilitate Felda must be executed at once. I hope the ‘clean-up’ at Felda will not end with the arrest of one big name,” he said.

“The most important thing is the interests of settlers that have been affected by Felda’s problems. The people’s interests must be protected.”

Felda Second Generation Voices action committee adviser Zulkefli Nordin hopes for a transparent probe by MACC to bring to book those who are guilty.

“We welcome MACC’s action because it is unbiased. It proves that MACC is serious in cleaning up Felda,” he said. 

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki confirmed Isa’s arrest in a statement. 

He said the arrest was following statements taken by the investigation team concerning the hotel purchases. 

“We are confident that we have grounds to make the arrest to assist in further investigation into the case,” he said. 

Isa was previously interrogated about the hotel purchases that were made above market value. 

He resigned from Felda Global Ventures Holdings and was subsequently made acting chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) two months ago. 

Before the hotel purchase probes, Felda’s internal troubles were thrown into public view in June when Isa and suspended FGV chief executive officer Zakaria Arshad, over an Afghan company’s late payment for a shipment of palm oil. 

Zakarian maintains his innocence and has urged MACC to probe into allegations of abuse of power and corruption in Felda. – August 15, 2017.