Felda sets up investigation committee on Kuala Lumpur Vertical City project

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 9): The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has set up an investigation committee to carry out a legal review on the forensic audit on the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City project.

The committee will be chaired by Felda board member Datuk Dr Ahmad Kushairi Din and will be assisted by a legal firm, The Star Online reported yesterday.
“The forensic audit report showed criminal fraud had been committed.

“The task of the investigation committee covers the Felda and FIC (Felda Investment Corporation) management. We’ll see the extent of the involvement of the 2014 Felda board members and FIC and whether legal action could be taken against them,” Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad told the media after chairing a Felda Board of Directors meeting here yesterday.

It was reported yesterday that Felda has been instructed by the Prime Minister’s Department to take disciplinary and legal action against those who have been negligent about the agency’s interests.

"Felda has been instructed to take disciplinary and/or legal action against those named in the audit report who are found to have been negligent in performing their duties, misrepresenting and not safeguarding the interests of Felda and FIC," the department said in a statement,

Shahrir has set a deadline of three months from yesterday for the committee to complete the legal review and submit it to the Felda Board of Directors, Bernama reported.

He added that those involved could be sacked and have their salaries slashed.

“For those who are no longer with Felda and FIC, civil action could be taken against them,” he warned.

Asked on the allegation by PKR vice-president Mohd Rafizi Ramli that the Felda land in Jalan Semarak was still owned by the developer, Shahrir explained that the land concerned was still under the registrar’s caveat Bernama reported.

“No transaction can be carried out on the land including registering it back to Felda as long as the registrar’s caveat is still on the title. The registrar’s caveat is a way to protect Felda’s interest,” he said.