FGV CEO: GOVT ASSURES GLCS WILL BE FREE OF POLITICAL INTERFERENCE
FGV CEO lauds govt for allowing professionals to manage firms freely
THE government has given the assurance that government-linked companies (GLCs) would be free of political interference.
Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) group president and chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad said this after a meeting with the Council of Eminent Persons at Ilham Tower yesterday.
He praised the new government, adding that GLCs like FGV would be free to act without political involvement.
He said the government would allow professionals to manage and handle things.
He said this was good news and accepted it wholeheartedly.
“We like this very much.”
Asked if there was any political interference in FGV in the past, he declined to comment.
“I do not want to talk about the past, but we have been given assurance that there will be no more political interferences.”
On whether former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman and former FGV chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad was mentioned during the meeting, he said no.
Isa was Felda chairman from January 2011 until he resigned in June last year. He was also Negri Sembilan menteri besar from 1982 to 2004 and Federal Territories minister between 2004 and 2005.
Several cases cropped up while he was leading Felda, including the 2016 case of Afghan company Safitex’s late payments to FGV subsidiary Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd, which led to Zakaria being forced to go on leave.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had investigated Isa over Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd’s purchase of hotels in London and Kuching.
Late last year, Isa was investigated over a scandal involving Felda’s Jalan Semarak land, worth RM270 million.
Umno Supreme Council member and Johor Baru member of parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad replaced Isa as Felda chairman. However, Shahrir resigned on Monday.
Zakaria described the meeting as “very positive“, adding that the council had given suggestions to improve FGV.
“A lot of issues were discussed for improvements. The future of FGV will be brighter based on the suggestions.
“However, I need to go back and inform my board of directors.”
He said a second meeting with the council was not scheduled, but if he would attend it if he was called to.