MELAKA, Aug 15 — The government will investigate issues involving Felda after completing its probe into alleged misappropriation at Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

The move follows a directive from His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, for investigations into institutions owned by the people to go beyond TH, The Star quoted Anwar as saying at the PKR Congress in Melaka.

“The King told me last week that do not let it end with TH, (but) continue,” Anwar said in his policy speech.

Anwar said the King had specifically asked who was currently in charge of Felda, to which he replied that he was responsible for the agency.

“His Majesty also asked who is in charge of Felda now. I answered, me, (so) once TH is done, uncover what happened at Felda,” he said.

Anwar, who is also PKR president, said the government will not compromise with anyone found to have breached regulations or taken public assets.

He said the action was not to target certain parties, but to obtain certainty on the land development agency that previously carried a heavy debt burden.

“Let the enforcement agencies investigate professionally," he said.

Anwar, who is also the Pakatan Harapan chairman, said the authorities must be firm and take action, regardless of the position of the individual being investigated.

He made it clear that any action taken should not be seen as a desperate retaliatory act, but a more stringent process without any compromises.

Earlier this year, Anwar said the federal government is burdened with Felda’s debt of almost RM1 billion a year, which was allegedly due to a weak administrative management.

He said that the responsibility of paying off the financial commitment now had to be shouldered by his administration to ensure that the survival and welfare of the settlers were not affected.

Anwar said the government continues to strengthen the reform agenda to stop the practice of embezzlement, in addition to ensuring that development can be enjoyed more fairly by the people.

He said that efforts to save the country from such disruptive practices must be followed by improving the administrative system and process so that wealth is not excessively distributed to certain parties.

“In these three years, we have ensured political stability, maintained security and a growing economy. 

“Now, we must continue to strengthen the reform agenda in several areas that are still pending,” he said.