Special officer's visit to Kuching hotel not at my behest, says Isa

Former Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad in his defence at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today said that the 2013 visit of his special political officer to the Merdeka Palace Hotel and Suites (MPHS) in Kuching, Sarawak was not on his instructions.

Isa, 71, said Muhammad Zahid Md Arip did not go to the hotel on official business, but on personal matters to find out the political situation there.

"Visiting the MPHS was an official job for former Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB) chief executive officer Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil, not the official job of Zahid. He (Zahid) wanted to follow (Zaid) to Sarawak because he wanted to know about the politics there," he added.

Isa said this during cross-examination by Deputy Public Prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz on the first day of defence proceedings of nine corruption charges against him.

Asked if Zahid had told him about the politics in Sarawak after returning from Kuching, Isa replied "no".

Earlier, Zahid told the court that he had applied for Isa's permission to follow the FICSB CEO to visit MPHS to see if the hotel had investment potential and after returning from the visit, Zahid had met Isa to report the results of the work trip.

Meanwhile, when asked by Afzainizam whether former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak had instructed a review of the purchase of the hotel, Isa said it was a directive and a request.

Afzainizam: Najib told (you) about the matter (to review the purchase) by phone?

Isa: Right.

Afzainizam: (Do you) agree with my suggestion that Zahid had listened to the conversation (about the hotel) between you and Najib in the (Felda) office?

Isa: I disagree because at that time I was with another officer, not Zahid.

On Jan 13, Zahid told the court that Isa had received instructions via telephone from Najib to repurchase MPHS after his purchase proposal was rejected by FICSB board members.

Isa was charged with nine counts of bribery, namely receiving bribes for himself amounting to RM3,090,000 from Gegasan Abadi Properties Sdn Bhd board member Ikhwan Zaidel (below) through Zahid, as a token of gratitude to help approve the purchase of a hotel by FICSB for RM160 million.

All the offences were allegedly committed on the 49th Floor, Felda Tower, Platinum Park, No. 11, Persiaran KLCC, here, between July 21, 2014 and Dec 11, 2015.

Each indictment was charged under Section 16 (a) (A) of the MACC Act 2009 and is punishable under Section 24 (1) of the same act, which carries a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the amount or value of the bribe, or RM10,000 whichever is higher.

The trial before judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali continues this Wednesday.

- Bernama