ISA Samad should never have been appointed acting chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) if he was so mired in controversy, resulting in his arrest by anti-graft authorities, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today.

The opposition parliamentary leader, in a statement, said Prime Minister Najib Razak should explain why he appointed Isa to SPAD after the latter resigned as chairman of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad (FGV) in June.

Isa’s term as Felda chairman ended earlier in January.

“(Najib) should have had thick dossiers on Isa being a problematic candidate for any top public post given his controversial role as Felda and FGV chairman, raising grave issues regarding integrity, breach of trust and abuse of power.

“Najib owes Malaysians a full and proper explanation as to how he could have appointed Isa as SPAD acting chairman.”

Isa, clad in an orange lock-up T-shirt, was produced in court this morning for a remand order, escorted by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officials.

He was arrested at the MACC headquarters yesterday when he went there to have his statement recorded.

The probe into Isa centres on corruption and abuse of power in the purchase of two hotels by Felda Investment Corporation (FIC), the investment arm of Felda.

One hotel is in London and the other in Kuching.

MACC has said it has a “strong basis” to arrest Isa and is considering a bid to freeze all assets owned by him.

FIC, which has interests in the real estate, hospitality and oil and gas sectors, is said to have bought the four-star Park City Hotel in upmarket Kensington, London, between 2013 and 2015, for an inflated price of RM330 million.

The property was renamed Grand Plaza Hotel. It was later learnt that the hotel was overpaid by at least RM110 million.

FIC purchased the hotel in Kuching – Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites – in 2014 for RM160 million, said to be RM50 million more than its actual value.

The hotel has 213 guest rooms and apartment suites.

Lim said Najib should have allowed full investigations into Isa to be completed before deciding whether he was fit to be appointed as SPAD acting chairman.