The proposed RCI into Felda will be brought to the Cabinet for discussion, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim following calls for a forensic audit.
SERDANG: The proposed Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) will be brought to the Cabinet for discussion, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
Speaking to reporters after attending the national-level Maulidur Rasul celebration here, Anwar said the matter would be discussed at the Cabinet level.
The proposal follows Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for a forensic audit to determine whether there had been any abuse of power, breach of trust or governance lapses in Felda’s management.
Zahid said a management audit alone would not be sufficient, given the agency’s long-standing problems and losses amounting to billions of ringgit.
“Felda is facing very serious and long-standing problems. The RM9 billion in losses cannot be tolerated,” he said.
He said a forensic audit was necessary to determine whether there had been any abuse of power, breach of trust or governance failures in the management of Felda.
Zahid said those found responsible should be brought to justice if there was sufficient evidence, but stressed that any investigation should not be used to victimise or humiliate individuals.
He also said the Government would continue to protect the interests of some 225,000 Felda settlers and the wider Felda community, estimated at about 1.8 million people across the first to fifth generations.
Last Friday, Anwar said he would await the full report of the Special Task Force investigating issues surrounding Felda’s management before making an official announcement.
He said the task force had begun its work and its findings were expected to be presented soon before being made public, similar to the recent Royal Commission of Inquiry report on Lembaga Tabung Haji.
