A Cooperatives Commission Malaysia (CCM) tribunal is poised to hear two complaints that will determine the role of Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chief Isa Samad in the agency's investment cooperative, KPF.

A group of Felda settlers and KPF members are refuting his claim to KPF membership and the chairperson's seat, citing Article 2 and 15 of KPF bylaws which read that only a settler or a full time Felda staff of two years tenure, is eligible.

Isa has scarcely been the federal agency's chief for one year and is a contract staff and not full time.

Their complaint to the CCM tribunal will be heard tomorrow at 10am.

Later in the day, the tribunal will also hear Isa's counterclaim, where he wants to be immediately appointed as KPF chairperson, bypassing the required voting and resolution of appointment which must take place at the KPF annual general meeting scheduled for the end of the year.

The matter was disclosed by PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today, arguing that the scheduled hearing of both the cases presents a "conflict of interest" as it is being heard by the same CCM officer.

Source not revealed

The officer was the same one that ruled that CCM can intervene and declare Isa as a KPF member despite the cooperative's bylaws clearly prohibiting such a move.

"I urge CCM not to bow to political pressure and act fairly in this matter," he said, expressing fears that the timing of the hearings seems as if it is an exercise to whitewash the matter and bow down to Isa's counter claim.

Rafizi showed reporters letters from CCM informing parties concerned about the tribunal hearings tomorrow and a letter from Isa to the presiding officer applying that his appointment as KPF chair be fast-racked.

The strategic director however did not distribute the letters to the press claiming that he needs to protect his sources from attempts to identify them via the document trail.

He divulged that one Felda whistleblower was already identified based on documents he distributed to the press.

Civil action underway

Isa has been moving to take control of KPF, by having himself made a member and then chairperson, soon after he was appointed as Felda chief, allegedly displacing long serving officers who do not see things his way.

Some have equated his actions to a power grab.

Disagreements over the status of Isa's KPF membership have been long standing and were once part of the tussle over the listing of Felda subsidiary Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH).

KPF members backed by the Opposition have moved to derail the listing which they said will sideline the cooperative which is the majority shareholder in FGVH.

They have also filed injunctions in court to stay the listing process as they continue to attack Felda and the government over the matter.

The impasse was broken when Isa and the government decided to go on with the listing without KPF involvement.

However sparks continue to fly over Isa's status as cooperative member and self-declared chairperson.