The arrest of former Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGV) chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, once seen as an ally of the prime minister, came as a surprise to some.

However, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim said that Isa's arrest was hardly a new dawn for anti-corruption efforts as the government may like to portray.

Tuan Ibrahim pointed out that the BN government, under then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had done even something even bolder - having a minister arrested and charged with corruption.

"At that time, Abdullah only just took over as prime minister. Land and Cooperative Development Minister Kasitah Gaddam was dragged to court and charged.

"The incident on Feb 12, 2004, created a perception that Abdullah's government will be very different from (his predecessor) Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Less than three weeks after that, Parliament was suddenly dissolved and the 11th general election was held on March 21, 2004, which saw Abdullah winning in style," he said.

However, Tuan Ibrahim said Kasitah was freed five years after that.

"How many people felt they were fooled?

"The history of Feb 12, 2004, appears to be repeating and it is a sign that the general election will be held soon.

"Looking at Isa, it is difficult for Felda settlers not to remember the case of Kasitah Gaddam," he said.

Kasitah, as land and cooperatives development minister, was in charge of Felda.

Ultimately, Tuan Ibrahim said it was Najib, with the aid of Isa, that pushed for the listing of FGV on Bursa Malaysia, which had brought suffering for the Felda settlers.

FGV under Isa, with its new found wealth raised from the stock market, had splurged on many assets that were not core to FGV's oil palm plantation businesses.

These include hotel purchases, which is now the basis of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation against Isa.