3 BOARD MEMBERS UNDER PROBE
Also being probed over purchase of hotels in London, Sarawak
THREE board members of Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) said to be in office at the time of the controversial Jalan Semarak land deal are also under investigation by graftbusters over the purchase of hotels in London and Sarawak.
The three directors — Datuk Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid, Datuk Nik Azman Mohamed Zain and Datuk Dr Omar Salim — were questioned by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in August last year over the London purchase.
It is believed that the case is ongoing.
To recap, FIC was reported to have bought the four-star Park City Hotel in Kensington, London, for about RM330 million in December 2014, said to be far above the original price, thus causing millions of ringgit in losses.
As for the purchase of the Kuching hotel, also in 2014, which features 213 guest rooms and apartment suites, it is alleged that FIC paid between RM40 million and RM50 million more than the actual market value of the hotel.
More recently, Berita Harian broke the exclusive story that Felda was at risk of losing ownership of a piece of land worth more than RM200 million following what had been described as a “dubious deal”.
The plot of land, earmarked for the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project, will feature seven towers, including Felda’s iconic tower, to be known as KLVC Tower 1A.
The ownership transfer of the land took place in 2014 as well, when FIC Sdn Bhd appointed Synergy Promenade Sdn Bhd (SPSB) as its main developer on June 3, and it was granted full power of attorney to develop the land.
The office complex will feature 59 floors of office space, a twofloor office podium including parking lots, a six-floor car park, a two-storey underground car park, a rooftop garden, as well as a helipad.
Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad was Felda chairman from 2011 until January last year; Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) chairman from Jan 1, 2011 until June 19; and FIC chairman from July 2013 until last year.
According to the source, all decisions pertaining to the appointment of the company were believed to have been made by FIC, but this was only informed to the Felda board of directors three months later, on Sept 2, 2014, for retrospective approval.
Berita Harian’s search at the Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office also found that ownership of a plot of land, measuring 16 hectares, which was the site of Felda’s former headquarters, Anjung Felda and Wisma Felda, had been transferred to another company on July 21, 2016.
This company is believed to have links with the project’s main developer.
A forensic audit on the KLVC project has begun and is expected to be completed ahead of schedule, under 30 days.
According to news reports on May 14, 2014, the area was initially earmarked for a mixed commercial and residential development project with a gross development value of more than RM500 million, to be undertaken by FIC’s subsidiary Encorp Bhd.