Zakaria: Why should I resign?

Zakaria was appointed as CEO of FGV, one of the world

PUTRAJAYA: Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) group president and CEO Datuk Zakaria Arshad will not resign from his post and is looking forward to continue helming the company.

Zakaria, who was asked to take an indefinite leave of absence, questioned those who suggested that he give up his post to ease the crisis in FGV.

“Why should I resign? Only if I have done something wrong will I resign. But I didn’t do anything wrong,” he told the press after being questioned for four hours by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com­­mission (MACC) here yesterday.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Puad Zakarshi had suggested that both Zakaria and FGV chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad step down.

“It’s only been a year (since my appointment),” Zakaria said.

“My contract is for three years and I still have about a year and 10 months to serve.”

Asked if he and Isa could resolve their dispute and work together again, Zakaria merely laughed and said: “This, I can’t answer.”

Hoping that the saga would end in a week or two, Zakaria said he met Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak about it but did not disclose what transpired during his meeting with the Prime Minister.

On Afghan company Safitex Trading LLC’s outstanding debts of US$11.7mil (RM49.8mil), Zakaria was confident that the amount “can be recovered 100%”.

He also welcomed the appointment of Datuk Seri Idris Jala as an independent party to look into the FGV issue, describing the Govern­ment’s move as a wise one.

“An independent party would be impartial in its investigation. Those involved will not have any leaning. If the probe is done from inside by the auditors who are my staff, they will be put in a spot as they have to write a report on me,” he added.

To a question on FGV’s share price which has taken a beating, Zakaria said the situation was temporary and it would see an upward trend again soon.