FGV: Fate of Isa and Zakaria to be determined today

The government is expected to make an important announcement today regarding the position of Chairman of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) Tan Sri Isa Samad and Group President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad in the company.

A meeting is scheduled to be held in Putrajaya to discuss the FGV issue, including a report provided by the government appointed an independent party to solve the country’s biggest plantation crisis.

A source told Berita Harian, Isa is scheduled to have a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at Putrajaya, today.

The source also speculated that Isa will be removed as a chairman to allow the government to investigate the top management of the public listed company.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operation) Datuk Azam Baki, has confirmed earlier that an investigation is carried out regarding FGV issue which involves few individuals within the organisation.

He said, the MACC officers have searched the FGV headquarters on 8 June and seized documents which are related with the case to assist in investigations.

A day before, Zakaria stepped forward to give a statement at MACC headquarters at Putrajaya.

READ: Zakaria takes it to Twitter

READ: No reason for me to resign, says Isa Samad

Before this, Isa was firm not to resign as the FGV Chairman, stating that he had no reasons to do so.

The FGV crisis escalated when Isa and his board of director ordered Zakaria, FGV Chief Financial Officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha, FGV Trading Chief Executive Officer Ahmad Salman Omar and Senior General Manager of Delima Oil Products Kamarzaman Abd Karim to go on leave on 6 June.

Following that, the government appointed former minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala as a mediator to find a solution to the crisis.

Isa, when contacted by the daily on the rumours of his position in FGV, said:

“I don't know, I will not comment anything now. We will have to wait.”

He also said that he is ready to face any decision made by the government on the matter.

Meanwhile, FELDA Chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad told the daily in Johor Bahru on Sunday, that he was not invited to attend the meeting in Putrajaya today.

“I was not invited so I don't know what meeting (will be discusses or announced). For now, the story of dropping Isa and Zakaria, are only rumors.

“We will have to wait Monday as right now the Prime Minister is taking this seriously. The government is serious as they have appointed an independent party (Idris) to collect information on what happened in FGV,” he said.