'Genting not FGV shareholder'

Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) today again clarified that Genting Bhd is not a shareholder of the company.

FGV also said it had not granted any shares to Genting during and after its initial public offering exercise.

"It is imperative for FGV to provide such clarification so that the public as well as Felda settlers are not misled by ambiguous reports," its Group president Sabri Ahmad said in a statement here.

He was responding to an article published by Malaysiakini entitled "Umno MP: Why did unrelated person get 1mil FGV shares?" on Oct 24, 2012.

Referring to a table attached to the article that listed the major shareholders of FGV, Sabri said: “The 407.005 million stated in the table is the numbers of shares directly held by Genting in Genting Plantations Bhd as at May 7, 2012 based on Genting Plantations' Annual Report 2011.

"We trust the media including social media practises good journalism, with an eye to a strong ethical framework to reach the sources who help make compelling news stories.

"On our part, we are ever ready to cooperate to correct any possible confusion amongst the readers and the public at large," he said.

Meanwhile, Sabri said FGV shares are Shariah compliant as confirmed by the Shariah Council.

He said the shares will remain "halal" even if Genting decided to have a shareholding in FGV.

"Should this happen, it will be Genting who is investing in FGV, and not otherwise where FGV buys and owns Genting shares," Sabri said.

- Bernama