Rafizi 'serial instigator' in Felda land transfer issue - Shahrir

Felda chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad views PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli as a serial instigator for creating consternation among the people on the ownership transfer of Felda land in Jalan Semarak, Kuala Lumpur.

“Indeed, there was (such) a transaction during my time, but it only involves registration (of ownership transfer) which is the final stage in the ownership transfer process.

“The beginning of the ownership transfer process was carried out in November 2016 through the land sale and purchase agreement, whereby the agreement was not known to us (Felda).

"Therefore, it cannot be said that when the registration (of the ownership transfer) was made in March 2017, I was in the know and was involved,” he said.

He was commenting on the latest allegation by Rafizi, who is also Pandan MP, that he (Shahrir) knew about the transaction on the ownership transfer of the Felda land.

Shahrir was met by reporters at the launch of “Jauhar Prihatin” and ground-breaking ceremony for the road and bridge construction, as well as the Kampung Bakar Batu Johor Government religious school project in Perumahan Kampung Hajah Hasnah in Johor Bahru today.

He said Felda was only aware of the sale and purchase of its land in Jalan Semarak at the end of January last year, following which it applied for a caveat from Federal Territory Land Office to halt the transfer transaction.

“But, it was not allowed because according to the Land Office, we (Felda) no longer have any right on the land to be issued the caveat.

“It was only in April last year, with the intervention of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Land executive council chairman, that we were able to place a private caveat,” he said.

On a statement by former Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad that he had nothing to do with the controversy on the agency’s land transfer, Shahrir said, “All findings from the forensic investigation that was carried out would be studied to determine the next course of action, whether  those responsible will face internal inquiry or legal action”.

According to Shahrir, the forensic investigation, which was conducted by an audit firm which was appointed by the Prime Minister’s Department, named several individuals in its investigation including members of the Felda board of directors and a few of its officers.

- Bernama