Hamid: Isa not suitable for SPAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar ( pix) has said he was shocked when he heard former Felda Global Ventures (FGV) chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad had been appointed to succeed him as Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) chairman.

The former home minister said although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak does not need to consult him over the selection of his successor, Mohd Isa was a controversial choice due to the many issues surrounding him.

“It is important for him (Najib) not to feed the controversy, but I was dumbfounded when he chose Isa,” Syed Hamid told The Malaysian Insight news portal.

Mohd Isa was appointed SPAD chairman on June 19, the day he resigned from FGV.

Two weeks ago, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Mohd Isa and detained him for five days over investigations into allegations of corruption and mismanagement during his tenure as FGV chairman.

Syed Hamid said the government needed to “exercise wisdom” in selecting his replacement at SPAD. “Whoever wants to lead SPAD, there has to be plenty of dedication and commitment. It is not only a matter of qualifications but also performance.”

Syed Hamid, who was SPAD chairman for seven years, said he submitted his resignation weeks earlier and had not heard from the prime minister.

“I didn’t get any feedback. If he had told me earlier, there could have been a proper farewell for me,” Syed Hamid said.