NGO: Ismail Sabri abused power to help Isa Samad
Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob has been accused of abusing his authority by exempting Isa Samad from the qualification requirements needed to join Felda Investment Cooperative's board.
Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob has been accused of abusing his authority by exempting Isa Samad from the qualification requirements needed to join Felda Investment Cooperative's board.
At a press conference today, advisor to Felda settlers advocacy group Anak Rosli Yaakop said the minister is allowed by law to do so, but should only do so as a last resort or during extraordinary circumstances.
"Everything is smooth in KPF right now. We want to know why Ismail must plant in Isa in the KPF managment board at this time," he said.
Ismail Sabri ( left ), the domestic trade, cooperative and consumerism minister, had clarified that he had used his ministerial powers to exempt Isa from KPF's by-laws.
This would allow Isa - a non Felda settler - to join the KPF board.
Reshuffling the board
Anak President Mazlan Aliman claimed the move was to allow Isa to reshuffle the KPF board and eventually force the cooperative to be part of the FGVH's listing package.
Rosli (
right
) on the other hand, lambasted at the Malaysia Cooperative Commission (SKM) for failing to take action on the matter.
"SKM should have revoked Isa's membership, but now they become a yes man to the minister," he said.
As such, Anak will seek a court declaration to strip off Isa membership while lodging a police report against Ismail for abuse of power.
Meanwhile, Mazlan also alleged that some RM4 billion in bank loans applied by Felda settlers to purchase FGVH's shares might have been channeled to the corporation.
He claimed some 80,000 settlers have applied for loans between RM50,000 and RM100,000 from seven banks; but the banks allegedly did not specify the amount and cost of the shares the settlers intended to purchase.
Anak had previously met with the Bank Negara to highlight the alleged foul play by the banks to dupe the settlers into applying the loans.
"When (the settlers) signed the loan forms, they were not informed of the details. So where did the RM4 billion go actually?" he asked.
He alleged that the banks might have transferred the money to the corporation at the expense of the Felda settlers.
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