PETALING JAYA: Another hotel bought by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) has come under the spotlight of the anti-graft body with its parent company backing the latest probe.
The property is a four-star hotel, comprising 213 units of guest rooms and apartment suites, and strategically located in Kuching, Sarawak.
Sources said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has started gathering evidence on the purchase, said to be overpaid by millions of ringgit.
It is learnt the probe will look into elements of corruption and abuse of power, resulting in FIC paying much higher than the actual market value. Anti-graft officers are expected to raid several FIC offices soon to seize documents and assist in the investigation.
The MACC obtained the information on the Kuching hotel while sifting through seized documents during its ongoing probe into a high-end property purchase in Kensington. London.
The London property, comprising 62 guest rooms and two three-bedroom serviced apartments, was also said to be overpaid by at least £20mil (RM110mil).
When contacted, Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad welcomed the new probe, pointing out that the Kuching hotel was bought by the previous board members of FIC for RM160mil.
“I see this as a positive development. Since taking over, I have pledged that Felda will be run with integrity and good governance.“We have signed the corruption free pledge and support whistleblowers to bring back Felda to its former glory.
“This is what the settlers want and I will do my best to improve the administration of Felda from top to bottom,” he said.
Meanwhile in Kota Kinabalu, three enforcement officials were arrested after being accused of asking for and receiving a bribe during a price check raid in Beaufort last week.
The three officials from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism’s Beaufort office aged 35, 37 and 38 were nabbed at about 12.30pm yesterday.
A shop owner who lodged a report said the three officials allegedly came to his shop to check on the prices of goods among other matters, at about 12.30pm on July 14.
