PUTRAJAYA, Sept 7 — A former Felda general manager has been remanded for five days to assist investigations into an abuse of power case involving the appointment of a developer for a project in Kuala Lumpur and the sale of land owned by the statutory body.

The remand order, which runs from today until Sept 11, was issued by Magistrate Ezrene Zakariah after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) made the application at the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court here.

The suspect, who is in his late 60s, was among two men in their 50s and 60s called by MACC to assist in the investigation.

Both are suspected of being involved in the sale of the statutory body’s land to a company with interests in the developer, without the knowledge of its board of directors and subsidiary.

It was reported that MACC detained two individuals, including a former general manager of a statutory body with the title ‘Datuk’, at about 4pm yesterday after they appeared at the MACC headquarters here to have their statements recorded.

Yesterday, MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abd Halim Aman confirmed the arrests and said the case was being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.

Last week, MACC opened seven investigation papers into allegations of misappropriation, abuse of power and corruption involving Felda and its subsidiary, Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC).

Abd Halim was reported as saying that the large-scale special investigation, ‘Ops Fella’, focuses on investment transactions and asset acquisitions by Felda and FIC management between 2010 and 2020.

Six of the seven investigation papers were opened on Aug 24, while the remaining one is an old case that is still active and undergoing the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) process.

The investigations cover the investment in Syarikat Tataran Aras Sdn Bhd, based in Limbang, Sarawak, the acquisition of Grand Borneo Hotel Sdn Bhd in Sabah and the purchase of Grand Plaza Serviced Apartments in London.

They also cover the establishment of Felda Wellness Corporation Sdn Bhd, the acquisition of Felda House and Grand Felda House, and alleged misappropriation in the development of the Kuala Lumpur Vertical City (KLVC) project.

The old investigation involving the Park City Grand Plaza property, which is still active and undergoing the MLA process, is also being reviewed in parallel, bringing the total number of cases under the seven investigation papers.

Meanwhile, a source said a remand application for the other individual, who is currently receiving treatment for what is believed to be health problems, would be made at a hospital today. — Bernama