MACC to record statements from FGV Chairman, senior members of management team

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will be recording statements from several witnesses in the near future in connection with its investigation into Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV).

MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said all the witnesses who would be called up to facilitate the probe on the government-linked company, including FGV's chairman and senior members of the management team.

"MACC has collected the required documents from FGV headquarters and now, my officers are scrutinising the documents to see who needs to be called to give statements.

"The witnesses can be anyone from the FGV leadership including its chairman, subject to the findings from the documents and facts of the case which are being scrutinised by my officers," he told reporters after attending MACC's 'Ihya Ramadan' programme at Masjid Al Jamiul Badawi in Kepala Batas here Friday.

Dzulkifli said the investigation would be finalised the soonest possible but would take some time should the documents involved and investigation process involve quarters outside the country.

He also said the commission received several reports pertaining to the investigation but refused to reveal whether the reports were lodged regarding abuse of power or corruption.

"I cannot tell whether the investigation leads to corruption or abuse of power as the case is being investigated. All I can say is that the investigation will be carried out in a comprehensive, professional and transparent manner," said Dzulkifli.

It was reported that an MACC team took eight hours on Thursday to collect the documents at the office of FGV chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Zakaria Arshad on the 45th floor of the Menara Felda building here regarding the issue of payment to a subsidiary company.

On Wednesday, Zakaria, armed with several documents in connection with FGV, turned up at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya to give a statement on several business transactions by the company's subsidiary, Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd.

On Tuesday (June 6,) Zakaria, as well as FGV Group chief financial officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha, Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd senior general manager Kamarzaman Karim, and FGV Trading CEO Ahmad Salman Omar were ordered to go on leave with immediate effect.

FGV has notified Bursa Malaysia that Zakaria is on leave while an investigation into a number of transactions undertaken by its subsidiary, Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd was carried out.

-- BERNAMA