A GROUP representing the children of Felda settlers has called on Felda Global Ventures Bhd (FGV) chairman Isa Samad to step down, as the world’s third biggest oil palm planter is embroiled in a bitter boardroom tussle replete with allegations of corruption.

The Jawatankuasa Bertindak Suara Generasi Ke 2 Felda will send a memorandum to Prime Minister Najib Razak, urging him to sack Isa for causing “disturbances” by forcing FGV chief executive office Zakaria Arshad to go on leave

“It’s not like what it was in the old days. Back then, even a cow in a Barisan Nasional shirt could win (an election).

“If the prime minister does not pay attention to this matter, he might regret it.

“If you look on Facebook every day, the children of Felda settlers are displeased,” the group’s chairman, Zulkefli Nordin, said today in Kuala Lumpur.

He said his group represents the children of Felda settlers of various political leanings.

Yesterday, Malay rights group Perkasa and Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak) also urged Isa to resign to resolve the turmoil in FGV.

Zulkefli said as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission investigated FGV’s transactions, it was unfair that only Zakaria was forced to go on leave but not Isa.

He said Shahrir Samad was a better Felda chairman than Isa, who was hard to contact.

Zulkefli said Shahrir made himself available to the Felda settlers’ children just a month into the job.

“This is what we want, what is happening in Felda to be inculcated in FGV. If Shahrir can do this, why not Isa?”

The group also called on Shahrir to take over Isa’s duties as FGV chairman.

“We are disappointed that Felda, as the biggest shareholder, is not represented in the FGV boardroom.

“Felda is holding in trust the shares of our parents,” he said.

Isa has shrugged off suggestions that he should resign, despite calls to do so from Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi.

“Why should I resign? I’m not the one who did anything wrong.” – June 8, 2017.