ISMAIL SABRI: PROBE THOROUGHLY
Take legal action to serve as lesson, says minister
AFULL investigation should be carried out at all levels, including Felda and related companies, into the dubious transfer of its land in Jalan Semarak to a private company.
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said action should not be limited only to civil procedures but also include criminal prosecution.
“I hope the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will investigate, even at the lowest level, as RM270 million (of loss) is huge.
“The land in Jalan Semarak is valuable and should not have been surrendered to others.
“All quarters must be investigated, be it Felda Investment Corporation or others in Felda.
“In fact, the company involved must also be probed as we fear that there exists criminal and fraudulent elements,” he said after opening the Bera mega wedding day at the district youth complex here yesterday.
On Dec 21, Berita Harian broke the story on the land transfer in its exclusive report, which prompted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to order action be taken if there had been negligence and wrongdoing.
Ismail Sabri said the issue of Felda losing the land came as a big shock and had drawn reaction
from Felda settlers.
He said the issue would not have happened if Felda had been more careful in its transactions.
He said Felda must recover the ownership of the land.
He said legal action must be taken against anybody found to have committed a wrongdoing to serve as a lesson.
BH had reported that ownership of the land, involving four plots, was transferred to Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd in 2015.
Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad was reported to have described the matter as a “dubious deal” which was discovered only in January this year after he took over from Tan Sri Isa Samad, who was former chairman of Felda and FIC.