Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, who has been appointed by the government as an independent party to recommend a way forward for Felda Global Ventures (FGV), said that he is focused on the work at hand.

“Yesterday, the government appointed me, in my personal capacity, as an independent party to establish the facts and recommend the way forward, following the FGV Board’s recent suspension of several senior management figures.

“Currently, I am totally focused on the work at hand to establish the relevant facts of the case.

“While I understand both the media and public’s interest for further details, it is premature for me to make any statements at this juncture,” he said in a brief media statement today.

Yesterday, FGV group president and CEO Datuk Zakaria Arshad was told to take an indefinite leave of absence over an issue of delayed payments owed to Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd by Safitex Trading LLC.