Shahrir backs Felda staff who expose wrongdoings

KUALA LUMPUR: Felda employees, including the top management, are forewarned that there are whistleblowers within the organisation who will expose wrongdoing, said Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.

Citing the raid on Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC), the Felda chairman said the action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was due to informants.

“I welcome the probe by the MACC into FIC. On our part, we will cooperate fully with graft-busters and will not interfere in their high-gear investigation.

“This is a good development. Let me also assure that those who come forward to expose corrupt practices within Felda will be given protection,” he said during the Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) Hari Raya open house yesterday.

Shahrir was asked to comment on the MACC raid on Balai Felda over the purchase of a fourstar hotel in Kensington, London, by FIC, the investment arm of Felda.

Shahrir stressed that Felda was committed to weeding out corruption and abuse of power from top to bottom.

He urged all parties to support and allow the MACC to conduct a thorough investigation.

“No one yet has contacted me after my announcement earlier that there appears to be anomalies in FIC. Subsequently, I ordered the board of directors in FIC to tender their resignation in relation to certain loss-making acquisitions,” he said, adding that some of the projects which resulted in losses include investments in Barakah Offshore Petroleum Bhd, Encorp Bhd and a sturgeon project.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad has ordered a thorough probe to uncover any possible element of corruption or abuse of power in the process of acquiring the property.

No one yet has contacted me after my announcement earlier that there appears to be anomalies in FIC.

Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad