DAP: Najib must explain Isa’s SPAD appointment after MACC arrest

Lim Kit Siang says Prime Minister Najib Razak should have already received complaints on former Felda chairman Isa Samad's alleged abuse of power.

PETALING JAYA: The arrest of former Felda chairman Mohamed Isa Samad by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has prompted Lim Kit Siang to question Prime Minister Najib Razak’s rationale for appointing the former, acting chairman of the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).

Expressing the common view of many opposition leaders, activists and other Malaysians, the DAP supremo said there was every indication that Isa would not have been suitable for his new role.

“Najib owes Malaysians a full and proper explanation as to why he appointed Isa SPAD acting chairman, when he should have received a long list of complaints about corruption, abuses of power and breaches of trust involving Isa,” Lim said in a statement.

Earlier today, Isa was remanded for five days to assist the MACC in its investigations into the purchase of a hotel in London in 2014.

Yesterday, Isa was arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya, where he had gone to give a statement pertaining to the hotel purchase.

Preliminary investigations by MACC revealed that FIC was believed to have bought the hotel at a much higher price than the market price, resulting in FIC allegedly losing millions of ringgit.

“The MACC said that it has ‘strong basis’ to arrest Isa and is considering a bid to freeze all assets owned by the Jempol MP.

“FIC, the investment arm of Felda focusing mainly on real estate, hospitality and the oil and gas sectors, is said to have bought the four-star Park City Hotel in upmarket Kensington, London, in December 2014 for an inflated price of RM330 million.

“It was learnt later that the price of the hotel was overpaid by at least RM110 million,” Lim said, referring to the facts of the case.

Lim, who is Gelang Patah MP, said the arrest of Isa and the investigations by MACC also throws doubt on the purchase of other properties by Felda and FGV while Isa was leading both organisations.

“What is the situation with regards to Isa’s role as SPAD acting chairman following his arrest by MACC?” Lim asked. - FMT