Isa: Nothing wrong with Felda's RM6mil EPF loan

"What is wrong? A company will always get a loan to conduct its business," Felda chairperson Isa Samad said when asked to comment on Felda's RM6 million loan from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

Federal Land Authority (Felda) chairperson Isa Samad today brushed off allegations that the agency needs to be probed over its RM6 billion loan from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

"What is extraordinary. What is wrong? A company will always get a loan to conduct its business," he said after officially opening the Felda Settlers Cooperative annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

PAS-linked NGO Anak, which is aggressively campaigning on Felda issues, had wanted the matter to be reviewed by a royal commission of inquiry.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim also raised the same matter in Parliament last week.

But Isa, a former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, said that the loan was given because EPF was confident in Felda's business acumen.

"That EPF gave us the loan is a recognition for us, it shows that they believe that we are able to repay (the loan)," Isa said.

'Unappreciative of blessings'

In his speech earlier, Isa hit out at those he called kufur nikmat(those unappreciative of blessings).

“Those who are unappreciative of blessings. Repent! Or else God will take it (the blessings) back.”

He was referring to some settlers who have sued Felda, alleging that the authority had cheated them about the palm oil extraction rate.

These, he said, are people who have been influenced by those who are coming into Felda settlements to stir up the people for political purposes, using it to gain votes for the coming general election.

Asked about his comment on the matter in a press conference later, Isa said, “These are political in nature.”

Quizzed if Felda will investigate the matters brought up by the settlers, Isa said that the information about the extraction rate is already a matter of record and needs no special investigation.

He also related how the process of harvesting and sending palm oil fruit to factories had already been made transparent via a special committee, that also included representative from the settlers themselves who observed shipments.

'No smear on Felda's image'

Isa also dismissed questions that the settler's legal action against Felda is detrimental to the company's image.

“Not Felda as a company,” he stressed.

He also said that they will not consider taking legal action against those making such allegations against Felda as he doesn't want to play into their hands.

“I think he (Mazlan Aliman) will like it if we sue him. Some people are like that.”

However, he clarified that if the claims made are serious enough to impinge the image of the company they will strike back.

“In the 'Felda bankrupt' case (involving a headline in PKR organSuara Keadilan), we sued,” concluded Isa. - Malaysiakini