KUALA LUMPUR, 6 June 2017:
The investigation into Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) group president and chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad, who has been told to go on leave, allegedly involved millions of ringgit, said its chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad.
He said the probe was ongoing, following findings of four investigations conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers which could not be made public. However, there is no time frame for the investigation, he added.
The Initial investigation conducted allegedly discovered a number of wrongdoings that forced FGV to ask Zakaria to step down, but he refused,” Isa told a press conference here today.
Zakaria was appointed CEO on April 1 last year.
Mohd Isa said FGV is willing to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if it were to conduct on an investigation into its affairs.
FGV has notified Bursa Malaysia that Zakaria is on leave from today, while the investigation into a number of transactions undertaken by its subsidiary, Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd was carried out.
Besides Zakaria, group chief financial officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha has also been asked to go on leave following the investigation. Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd senior general manager Kamarzaman Karim, and FGV Trading CEO Ahmad Salman Omar have also been placed on leave.
Later on Twitter, Zakaria said the turn of events as unprecedented in the history of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and FGV.
“Today’s news was unprecedented in the history of Felda and FGV. The truth will prevail. To my FGV colleagues and warga Felda, I am sorry I had to leave the office abruptly, didn’t get a chance to address all of you.”
When contacted by a local television station during an interview segment earlier, Zakaria said he was willing to be investigated by MACC over transactions involving FGV’s unit, Delima Oil Products.
“In fact, when asked earlier, I called on the MACC to come over to FGV and investigate the entire FGV, including this case (Delima Oil) to enable us to clear the air.”
He also said he had anticipated the possibility of the board asking him to take a leave of absence, but had not expected it to get to this stage as it was a minor issue. “I have to face this openly and defend myself.”