THE government does not need to hold a forensic audit to finger the persons responsible for the ownership transfer of Felda’s four parcels of prime land in Kuala Lumpur, as the timeline for the chain of events will provide enough clues to the identities of the guilty parties, Johor PKR chairman Hassan Karim said.

Putrajaya needs only to look at the chronology of events and management chart to identify the individuals responsible, Hassan  said at the launch of “Jelajah Selamatkan Felda” (Save Felda Roadshow) in Kota Tinggi in the southernmost state last night.

“We’ve actually told (Prime Minister) Najib (Razak) there is no need to appoint a forensic auditor for an inquiry.

“It’s easy (to pinpoint the culprit). Shahrir Samad is now the Felda chairman. Before that, who was it? Isa Samad. All this is in front of the prime minister. Remember, Felda is under the prime minister,” Hassan said at the event organised by Anak, a group representing second-generation Felda settlers.

Amanah leaders Mohamad Sabu, Aminolhuda Hassan and Hasanuddin Mohd Yunus, Bersatu vice-president Abdul Rashid Asari and Anak president Mazlan Aliman were present..

Hassan was referring to Najib’s promise to get to the bottom of Felda’s latest scandal which came to light last month. About 6ha of prime land on Jalan Semarak was sold for RM270 million to a company which was also given the power of attorney to develop the land, without Felda receiving a sen.

Najib on his blog two days ago said the government had appointed an external auditor to conduct a forensic audit on the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project that was to be built on the Jalan Semarak land. 

“This audit firm will conduct a forensic audit on all activities, decisions and actions related to this project.

“It will also reevaluate the relevant regulatory process, including weaknesses in internal administration, as well as Felda’s oversight of Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC).

“The audit firm’s investigation will also involve the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Land and Mines Office and City Hall,” Najib wrote on najibrazak.com.

Hassan yesterday night said the timeline showed that the land transfer or sale had occurred while Umno warlord Isa Samad was the agency chairman. 

Isa was Felda chairman from 2011 to January last year, after which Shahrir took over. 

Isa was also chairman of Felda Global Ventures Bhd (FGV) from 2011 to June last year, and chairman of Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) from July 2013 to last year.

FIC is also under investigation for acquiring overpriced hotels in London and Kuching, which occured during Isa’s tenure.

Hassan said Felda’s problems were like a movie where characters on the same side played “good cop, bad cop”.

“Najib, Shahrir and Isa represent two faces of the Umno and Barisan Nasional government,” he said.

Anak president Mazlan, meanwhile, said Isa was merely a “yes-man” in the scandals as he ultimately reported to Najib and the Prime Minister’s Department which oversaw Felda.

“That is why in our quest to investigate Isa, I asked the police to study the memorandum that was sent to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission asking it to investigate whether Najib was involved in the sale of Felda land in Jalan Semarak. Catch Najib!” Mazlan told last night’s gathering.

Mazlan urged Shahrir to disclose the details of a deal Felda had struck with Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd to build Menara Felda near the Petronas Twin Towers.

“We have to know whether the payments are made on schedule or not,” he said.

FIC’s dubious deals as well as huge debts that the settlers owe Felda for replanting, are among the issues that could see the settlers, traditionally loyal to the ruling BN, switch allegiance to vote for the opposition. January 6, 2018.