THE government should sack Isa Samad as many of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV)‘s problems stem from his leadership, said PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man yesterday.
 
“The clash between Isa and FGV chief executive officer Zakaria Arshad isn’t surprising. In fact, it was to be expected,” said Tuan Ibrahim in a statement.
 
 “PAS had said then that it disagreed with Prime Minister Najib Razak’s decision to keep Isa as the chairman.”
 
Tuan Ibrahim said PAS had predicted today’s crisis when Felda appointed Johor Baru MP Shahrir Samad as the Felda chairman following a restructuring exercise.
 
“The political rivalry between the two is unnecessary and will only hurt Felda and the settlers.
 
“Keeping Isa in FGV will only make Shahrir’s job to rehabilitate Felda harder.”
 
“If Zakaria had to go on leave, Isa should also go on leave to ensure a proper and transparent investigation can be carried out into corruption within FGV,” said Tuan Ibrahim.
 
He suggested that Shahrir replace Isa as the FGV chairman.

“It’s proven now that listing FGV and appointing Isa to head Felda are two of the biggest mistakes the prime minister has made… something that settlers will remember for a long time.”
 
FGV group president and CEO Zakaria and group chief financial officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha were told to go on leave with immediate effect today pending an internal audit on transactions between FGV unit Delima Oil Products and Afghan company Safitex.
 
Isa said in a press conference yesterday that PricewaterhouseCooper’s (PwC) probe on the deal had uncovered several offences linked to corruption. – June 6, 2017.