FGV: I’m trying to establish the facts, says Idris Jala

(The Star) – Datuk Seri Idris Jala has begun his fact-finding mission for Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) following its decision to suspend chief executive officer Datuk Zakaria Arshad and three other top officials.

The former minister and Pemandu chief executive officer spent more than an hour at the FGV office in Menara Felda here on Thursday, where officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) were also present to retrieve documents related to the ongoing probe on alleged improprieties involving the company.

Idris, however, told waiting journalists that he would not be making any statements until his task of establishing the facts of the case was completed.

“I’m trying to establish the facts. And while I’m doing that, I don’t want to make any statement because that would be very prejudicial,” he said before leaving around 3.45pm.

Idris was appointed by the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday as an independent party to recommend a way forward for FGV.

The company is in a bind following the suspension of Zakaria by FGV chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad and the board of directors to allow for an investigation into delayed payments owed to FGV subsidiary Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd by Afghan company Safitex.

Zakaria spent four hours at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya on Wednesday to assist in the probe on the business dealings between Delima Oil and Safitex.