Settlers want FGV crisis to be resolved properly - Shahrir

Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers want the Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) crisis to be resolved properly, said Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.

He said generally, the settlers he had met stated their aspiration for FGV to have good governance and focus on efforts to generate profits, although they will not be affected by the public listed company's crisis.

"The settlers are also investors and shareholders, so long as the management is new, the board of directors is new and there is a good outcome to the ongoing internal investigation, the investments of the settlers are safe and assured.

"All are hoping and are positive there will be a good outcome for FGV," he told a media conference on the preparations for the 2017 National Settlers' Day celebration, here Tuesday.

Asked on the trust of all the 112,635 settler families towards FGV, he said the operations of the Felda subsidiary functioned as normal and its management was capable of carrying out their responsibilities.

On the FGV internal investigation, Shahrir declined to comment further saying it was for FGV's board of directors to solve the matter.

The FGV crisis arose when its former chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and its board of directors ordered FGV Group President and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad and three senior management officers to go on leave from June 6.

The three officers were FGV Group Chief Financial Officer, Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha, Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd senior general manager, Kamarzaman Karim and FGV Trading chief executive officer, Ahmad Salman Omar.

Isa was reported to have said that the take leave order was to enable an internal investigation on the business dealings of FGV and Safitex Trading LLC, an Afghanistani company.

To seek a solution to the FGV administrative crisis, the government appointed former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Idris Jala as an independent party to tackle it.

On the 2017 National-Level Settlers Day celebration, deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim, who was also at the media conference, said about 30,000 visitors would be attending the event at Dataran Putrajaya, here from July 21 - 23.

He said the 'Ekspresi Felda Negaraku Malaysia' programme would also be held in conjunction with the celebration which had listed 50 interesting activities aimed at show-casing the contributions and successes of Felda to the public.

"We are too busy with other problems that we cannot share Felda's positive stories. We don't deny the problems exist but at the same time we should not push aside Felda's achievements," he said.

Among the events which would be held are a cheap sale carnival, food stalls and food-trucks, 'Exploring Felda with Upin Ipin', Felda innovative products exhibition, and 'Ekspresi Negaraku' Concert involving Felda generation artistes.

-- BERNAMA