KEY PEOPLE IN FGV PROBE TO BE CALLED UP
They will assist in Felda Investment Corp investigation, says MACC
THE individuals who will be called up by graft busters investigating Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd include those who had statements recorded before, as part of the Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd probe.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said the individuals were expected at their headquarters next week.
“We are determining the need (to call) the witnesses and we have also seized documents. Several individuals who had their statements recorded as part of the FGV investigations will be called back to assist in the FIC investigation.
“However, there are no links between the FIC and FGV cases,” he said yesterday.
The FIC investigation is over the purchase of a four-star hotel in Kensington, London.
Dzulkifli declined to reveal who the individuals were or how many would be called.
He remained tightlipped when asked if the FIC chief executive officer would be summoned.
“Let’s wait and see what happens next week,” he said.
Investigations into possible misconduct and abuse of power in FGV had seen MACC recording statements from former FGV chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, his wife, Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid, and suspended group president and chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad last month.
MACC began its investigations following a boardroom tussle, which was allegedly triggered by a delayed payment from Afghan company Safitex to FGV subsidiary Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd.
It was reported that MACC had recorded statements from 50 other individuals.
On June 6, Zakaria and three senior FGV officers were instructed to go on forced leave.
Dzulkifli was at the MACC Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house with the Indian community in Kapar at SJK (T) Methodist yesterday.
He was asked to comment on MACC’s probe into FIC, which allegedly had paid much more for the hotel, with millions of ringgit in losses.
In a statement, Dzulkifli said he gave instructions for the investigation to be opened following fresh information received on the purchase made between 2013 and 2015.
MACC said investigators had obtained documents linked to the purchase and were processing them.
It said an investigation would be carried out to determine if there were elements of corruption or abuse of power during the hotel’s purchasing process.
Meanwhile, Dzulkifli criticised the Penang government again for its refusal to sign MACC’s Corruption-Free Pledge (IBR).
He said it was only right that the DAP-led state government took the pledge, which would complement its Competency, Accountability and Transparency policy.
“The Penang government should walk the talk if it is serious about transparency. People will get to see their will to fight graft through IBR.
“They should not just ask MACC to take action against graft allegations. What about the commitment of the state government?”