Felda group wants MACC action over Felda cash reserves
KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — The National Association of Felda Settlers’ Children (Anak) wants the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe what they say is the misappropriation of funds by the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda).
Its president Mazlan Aliman said that Anak will lodge a report next month with the MACC if the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan did not provide an explanation for the fall in Felda’s cash reserves.
“We (Anak) will lodge police report in every state this month regarding Ahmad Maslan’s statement and If he does not clarify his statement then we will lodge a report to the MACC,” he said.
Ahmad has denied that the plunging cash reserve was caused by mismanagement.
“We did not abuse the funds,” Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat last week, adding that the money was spent appropriately.
Mazlan, however, challenged Ahmad today to a public debate.
“If he thinks that he is correct then I challenge him to an intellectual debate. It can be done anywhere,” he said.
He also ridiculed Ahmad for wanting file a defamation suit against several Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders, including Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Kuala Terengganu MP from PAS Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut, for making what it says are false claims that the land development authority is bankrupt.
“I think Ahmad Maslan panicked during the press conference because what he said was not professional. I find him really amusing because how can you sue someone when the questions were asked in Parliament?” he said.
The Najib administration recently admitted Felda’s reserves plunged from RM4.08 billion in 2004 to RM1.35 billion in 2009, a decline of 67 per cent.
PR leaders have blamed Najib and incoming Sime Darby Bhd chief executive Datuk Mohd Bakke Salleh for Felda’s dwindling cash reserves.
Former Land and Co-operatives Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong said Felda had RM7 billion in assets, cash in the bank of RM4.5 billion and no borrowings before Najib took over.
