ISA Samad is symptomatic of the rot in Umno today, where the rejected are being feted, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Bersatu chairman alleged that although Isa, as Felda chairman, had overpaid millions for a hotel in Europe while heading Felda, the government has appointed him to lead another government agency instead of punishing him.

“But when we find that Isa had done something wrong, he was not removed from his post, but moved to head the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD),” Dr Mahathir said in his speech at the Selangor Bersatu open house in Batang Kali, Selangor.

In 2005, the Umno disciplinary board had suspended Isa’s party vice-presidency and membership for six years, after finding him guilty of being involved in “money politics”. However, after an appeal to the Umno Supreme Council Isa’s suspension was reduced to three years.

Isa had garnered the most number of votes among the three Umno vice-presidents during the party’s 2004 elections, ahead of then Malacca chief minister Ali Rustam and then international trade and industry minister Muhyiddin Yassin.However, the authorities never charged Isa with any crime, and his  appointment as Felda chairman on January 1, 2011, despite Umno finding him guilty of graft, raised some eyebrows. Shahrir Samad became Felda chairman in January this year, but Isa retained the chairmanship of Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGV) Bhd.

In June, Isa found himself at a centre of several controversies surrounding FGV when he sacked its CEO, Zakaria Arshad.

He then resigned as FGV chairman but was appointed to lead SPAD.

The most recent Felda-linked scandal that allegedly involves Isa is the purchase of a luxury hotel in London at an inflated price.

Dr Mahathir went on to say that Prime Minister Najib was attracted to people like Isa, and this had made Malaysia to be known globally as a kleptocratic country.

“This is a government filled with thieves… people at the top are also thieves, the staff members are also thieves, all their followers are thieves and the whole world is accusing us of being a kleptocratic country.”

Dr Mahathir added that if Pakatan Harapan came into power in the next general election, the Goods and Services Tax would be immediately removed.

About 4,000 people attended the Bersatu open house. The hall at Batang Kali, Selangor, could not hold the crowd and attendees spilled out onto the compound. Despite a power outage of about 15 minutes, people still stayed back and cheered as Dr Mahathir spoke.

The 92-year-old former prime minister has been energetically touring the country in the past several months to press his case that the Najib government has to go.

Dr Mahathir said in his speech that he was not feeling well, but he remained upbeat when speaking, saying he was confident PH would win the next general election.

“That was why we formed Pakatan Harapan. It is a formation of four opposition parties, and we believe with the support of the people, we can win.

“PH does not fight for Pakatan, but we fight for the people, and we know how to reduce the suffering of the people,” he said. – July 23, 2017.