Anwar orders report on Felda’s proposed hotel sale

MELAKA (Aug 7): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pictured) has directed the management of the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to provide a complete report regarding the proposed sale of a hotel owned by the agency, which was allegedly at a price far lower than the original purchase price.

Anwar, who is also finance minister, revealed that he refused to sign the approval document for the sale after discovering that the hotel was to be sold for £100 million (RM549.8 million), whereas it had been purchased by the previous management for £160 million.

He also expressed his regret over the loss-making sale proposal, considering that Felda settlers are still facing various hardships and require government assistance to improve basic facilities.

"Felda is under my watch. Two months ago, the Felda management came and asked me to sign for the sale of this hotel. I said, wait a moment, what kind of business is this? Selling at a price lower than when it was bought. So I did not sign. I said, find out who did this and submit a report.

"Felda settlers are struggling. When I visited (the settlers), they said they wanted air conditioning, schools to be repaired and their income is insufficient. But Felda itself (the loss-making sale) is just casually losing money," he said in his speech at the Semarak Kenegaraan Programme with the Malaysian Armed Forces at Terendak Camp here Friday.

Also present at the event were Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Army Chief Gen Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman.

According to the prime minister, the move to request Felda to submit a complete report is to defend Felda as an important institution in Malaysia.

"If we don't (do something), no matter how long, our agencies — including Malay agencies that we take pride in and want to defend — this is what will become of them. So we must correct that," he said.

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