Isa turned against reporters who insisted on asking questions on Zakaria’s allegations, including that of abuse of power, The Star reported.
He tried to deflect questions on his role as FGV chairman and told off reporters who persisted on the issue of abuse of power.
“I will sue you for making such a statement,” Isa was quoted as saying in response.
When told that such information had already been made by a blogger, who had made the claim that Zakaria’s sacking was due to Isa’s attempt to cover up rampant corrupt practices in FGV, the reaction was even more blunt.
“You cannot accuse me and it is as though you are accusing me by asking the question,” the FGV chairman said, according to the daily.
Early yesterday, Zakaria was ordered to go on an indefinite leave of absence by the FGV board of directors, pending an investigation into a delayed payment by an Afghan company, Safitex, to an FGV subsidiary.
Zakaria later told media that he had, in a letter to the company, defended himself against accusations of wrongdoing related to payments involving Safitex.
“The payment process was approved and implemented by the previous chief executive. I am not guilty of those accusations and will not resign as instructed,” he said.
He also invited the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate him and FGV, saying that the anti-graft agency should focus its attention on the procurement departments in the FGV group of companies.
In response, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki said his officers were looking into allegations against FGV, based on information they had received.
“Yes, we are on it. As long as it involves corruption or abuse of power, we will carry out a thorough probe.
“We have received some information about issues in FGV, and will ascertain those that fall under our jurisdiction,” Azam was quoted as saying by The Star, in response to the latest developments involving FGV.
He added that he will get Zakaria to meet with the agency soon to facilitate the investigation into the allegations made against FGV.
“Our focus is solely on corruption, and has nothing to do with the personal matters of any party,” Azam was quoted as saying.
London property purchase
This is not the first time that MACC have probed into both FGV and its largest shareholder, Felda, over corruption issues.
In 2015, MACC had detained a high-ranking officer in Felda Investment Corp over allegations of irregularities in some of the investments the company had made in the purchase of properties in London.
However, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low told the media in May that investigations had been completed and there was no finding of wrongdoing pertaining to the purchases.
More recently, a RM47.6 million sturgeon farming project came under scrutiny, with five current and former Felda officials being detained by MACC in January this year.
Two of the senior officials from Felda were then charged in March with criminal breach of trust over the project, with their offences allegedly committed between January and July 2014.