The arrest and investigation of Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) acting chairperson Isa Samad does not disrupt the commission’s operations, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri.

She said Isa is a non-executive chairperson in the commission. If he is absent in a meeting, the other commissioners present would simply appoint an interim chairperson among themselves for each meeting.

“As you can see, we are doing our work as usual. It doesn’t disrupt our normal task,” Nancy (photo) told reporters at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

She also stressed that as far as Spad is concerned, Isa is still the commission’s acting chairperson, as he has yet to be charged with any crime.

The appointment of a Spad chairperson is also the sole prerogative of the prime minister, she said.

Earlier today, Nancy officiated a Spad event where 300 individual taxi licenses were issued to taxi drivers as part of the Taxi Industry Transformation Program (TITP). In addition, 88 eligible drivers also received RM5,000 each for them to purchase their vehicles.

The TITP program entails a shift from the previous practice of issuing taxi licenses to companies, which was criticised as being prone to rent-seeking behaviour as licensees may simply lease the license to interested drivers.

It also lifts a longstanding restriction on budget taxi drivers that prevented them from using cars other than those from Proton.

Isa was the Felda Global Ventures Holding Bhd chairperson until his resignation on June 19, amid a corruption scandal plaguing the government-linked corporation.

He was immediately appointed as Spad acting chairperson.

On Aug 15, Isa was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009, which deals with the receiving of gratification.

This is in relation to Felda Investment Corporation’s (FIC) purchase of hotels in Kuching and in London. His houses and his office at Spad were also raided as part of the probe.

Isa was released on bail yesterday upon the expiry of his remand period.

Asked when would Isa return to his duties as Spad, Nancy said the matter is up to Isa to decide.

As a non-executive chairperson, there is no need for Isa to be present at his office every day, she said.

She added that there were no restrictions barring him from attending today’s event.

Meanwhile, when asked about a rumour that Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zakarshi may be appointed as chairperson, Nancy curtly replied: "That’s news to me."