Isa Samad, wife questioned for 4 hours by MACC

Former Felda Global Venture Holdings Bhd (FGV) chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad and his wife Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid had their statements recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today over the crisis involving the company recently.

The couple arrived at the MACC headquarters here Wednesday at 9.40am and left the building at 2pm, after four hours being questioned by the anti-graft body.

"I have explained some of the questions asked, I think I am the last person to be called among the board members of the company.

"It’s normal. When something happens, I, as the former chairman, have to explain the issues that arise," he told reporters shortly after giving the statements.

Isa was asked whether he felt guilty and why his wife was called up by the MACC as well.

However, he declined to comment and repeatedly said that it was up to the MACC to investigate and decide.

On Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that Isa had agreed to relinquish his position as FGV chairman willingly.

The government had also on Monday announced the appointment of Tan Sri Sulaiman Mahbob as the new FGV acting chairman effective immediately.

The FGV crisis drew attention when Isa and its Board of Directors directed FGV Group President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad and three senior management executives of FGV to go on leave beginning June 6.

READ: Isa Samad, wife to give statement to MACC today

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The three senior executives were FGV Group Chief Financial Officer, Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha, Senior General Manager of Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd, Kamarzaman Karim and Chief Executive Officer of FGV Trading, Ahmad Salman Omar.

The government had also appointed former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala as the independent party to tackle the crisis.