THE latest scandal to hit Felda showed how some people were monetising government assets to line their own pockets, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister said it appeared such occurrences had become common.

“Whenever they see an authority having money or assets, there will be suggestions on how to steal it. This has happened to Felda, Tabung Haji and even the government of Malaysia,” said the 93-year-old in a video posted on Facebook today.

“Land in Kuala Lumpur that was valued at almost RM7,000psf was sold to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) for RM60psf. 1MDB then sold it back to Tabung Haji for RM3,000psf. This is how they cheat – by taking the government and people’s assets and turning it into money so that  it can go into certain people’s pockets,” said Dr Mahathir.

The Bersatu chairman was commenting on the Felda land scandal that  broke last week where land belonging to the federal land development authority was transferred to another company without the board’s knowledge.

Dr Mahathir said such acts also showed how powerful certain people were and that he believed that the “profits” must have gone to these people.

“This means the top man is too powerful and can do anything he wants without consulting others. 

“I believe some “profits” must have been reaped, as they were willing to sell Felda’s land without the knowledge of Felda and its board.”

Dr Mahathir said the theft was exposed because it was “too big” an issue which the new Felda chairman Shahrir Samad did not want to take responsibility for.

“If a scandal involves the prime minister there will be efforts to sweep things under the Official Secrets Act. I think Shahrir didn’t want to carry this burden alone and let it out in the media,” said Dr Mahathir.

In a press conference last week, Shahrir said he had discovered the land title transfer in January and informed Prime Minister Najib Razak of it in February.

But no efforts were made to report the case until a local daily uncovered the scandal and published an expose last week.

Since then, Shahrir said Felda had lodged a police report on the Jalan Semarak land title transfer as Felda had not received any money from the “sale”.

Former Felda chairman Mohd Isa Samad has not replied to questions pertaining to the transfer which took place under his watch. Isa was appointed by Najib.

On whether Najib should be held responsible for the Felda scandal, Dr Mahathir said he was recently investigated and taken to task over Bank Negara Malaysia’s forex trading losses that had occurred 30 years ago.

“How can he not know when such big cases are usually reported to the prime minister? I am surprised,” said Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir said it was also strange that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had concluded that there had been no wrongdoing in the Felda case when it hadn’t even opened an investigation.

“A case of 30 years ago, they want to investigate. But this, without investigating, they have declared it to be a case of ‘bad management’. 

“It’s just like the case of RM2.6 billion found in the PM’s account. The attorney-general said there had been no wrongdoing. He acted like a judge and not a public prosecutor. – December 27, 2017.