Ah, Felda did not lose its land after all, Part 2: Forensic audit starts today

Having to clean up after his own people's mess, yet again

“As such, reports saying that the land has been lost are incorrect." - PM Najib Razak, KLVC project on Felda land: External audit appointed, Jan 4

TWO CABINET ministers have spoken out on the Felda's Jalan Semarak land issue in support of the Prime Minister's press statement last Thursday. Hishammuddin Hussein said we should let the investigation proceed as we don't want too see anyone get punished in the media and social media (Don't be quick to judge Felda land issue, Jan 6). Azalina Aziz also downplayed allegations that Felda had "lost" the land. "The land ownership issue is more a business matter." (Felda land deal just a business matter, Jan 6). 

The Minister in the PM's Department went on to say she believed the issue would not affect the support of Felda voters "because it was brought up by the chairman himself, which means he will find a solution to this problem". 

But with all due respect, the chairman, Shahrir Samad, may have become part of "this problem". Since the day BH broke the story ["Felda hilang hakmilik tanah Jalan Semarak"], Shahrir himself has been caught many times lamenting the "lost" land. (here, here and here just to link a few) and finding fault with his predecessor Isa Samad and the developer of KLVC, Synergy Promenade (which also owns the land by virtue of a land transfer done by FIC in 2014 when Isa was chairman of Felda as well as FIC). 

Will he sing a different tune this afternoon when he meets the Felda staff at a town hall meeting?

If there was going to be a solution to the problem, all parties involved should have sat down together and dealt with it like professionals instead of using the media to sensationalise the issue the way it did. But now, if you ask me, the damage is done. And the biggest victim is Najib Razak himself. 

And with the general election right around the corner, you've got to wonder what those guys around the PM and behind the so-called Semarak exposé were thinking of ...

p.s. And all this while, the developers of Semarak land have not said a single word. Do they even exist?