The removal of Isa Samad as chairperson of Felda Global Ventures Bhd (FGV) was long overdue, but it makes no sense to have him replace Syed Hamid Albar at the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad), said DAP lawmaker Liew Chin Tong.

Having made a mess of FGV and Felda, Isa should not be rewarded with such an important position as acting chairperson in Spad, added the Kluang MP.

In a press statement, Liew pointed out that Spad will be involved, directly or indirectly, in the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Line project, the KL-Singapore High-Speed Rail (RM60 billion), MRT Line (RM28 billion) and MRT Circle Line (RM20 billion).

He pondered whether Isa will be creating a bigger mess in his new post, where the stakes are equally high, if not higher, than FGV and Felda.

“What value does Isa (photo) bring to the table, that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has to keep him around even after he was almost universally discredited for the troubles he created for Felda and FGV?

“Are there any secrets which Isa is helping Najib to keep resulting in Isa's continued presence in the Najib administration despite not holding a senior post in Umno since more than a decade ago?"

Liew said this after Najib announced today the appointment of Telekom Malaysia chairperson Sulaiman Mahbob as acting FGV chairperson replacing Isa.

Isa would now serve as acting chairperson of Land Public Transport Commission (Spad), replacing its former chairperson Syed Hamid Albar who announced his retirement earlier this month.

"The government, in exercising its full rights under the provision of Article 80 of FGV's memorandum of articles and association, has appointed with immediate effect Sulaiman as acting chairperson of FGV," Najib had said.

Syed Hamid has been Spad chairperson for three terms since its creation in 2010.

Liew said he had consistently argued that Spad and the governing of the public transport should be under the purview of the transport minister, not the Prime Minister's Department.

“I call on Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai to agree with me that public transport should be placed under his ministry and to reject Isa's appointment.

“Malaysians should all voice out against Isa's continued presence in Najib's administration despite the major mess he created in Felda and FGV, which should have been investigated much earlier,” he added.