-The Star filepic
PETALING JAYA: The document put forward by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not the agreement to waive the RM8.3bil debt for Felda settlers, says a former aide of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
In a Facebook post on Thursday (July 20), Muhyiddin's former principal private secretary Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad (pic) said the document released to the media by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is an agreement on the issuance of government-guaranteed sukuk and not an 80% debt waiver of the Felda settlers.
The PMO released the document earlier in the day as proof that Anwar was the one who signed the waiver of the Felda settlers' debts and that it was not done by Muhyiddin during his premiership.
ALSO READ: Felda settlers' debt waiver: Anwar urges Muhyiddin to apologise after releasing evidence
“The Prime Minister revealed part of the documents which he claimed was the agreement to waive the RM8.3bil debt of the Felda settlers.
“At first glance, I already know the document is not the debt waiver agreement for Felda settlers but the agreement on the issuance of government-guaranteed sukuk.
“On Oct 14, 2020, when Muhyiddin was prime minister, the Cabinet approved a Felda Recovery Plan, in which there is the waiving of 80% of the RM8.3bil debt of the Felda settlers, an issuance of the RM9.9bil sukuk in phases to take over FGV (Holdings Bhd) and the settlement of the Felda debts with Maybank and the Employees Provident Fund, and the annual grant of the RM990mil to Felda by the Federal Government.
ALSO READ: Anwar and Muhyiddin at loggerheads over Felda debts
“The document released by the PMO does not prove that the debt waiver of the settlers was made only last June. This is about the issuance of government-guaranteed sukuk which was part of the Cabinet decision back in 2020.
“Anyone who is finance minister (at the time of issuance) has to sign this document. As far as I remember, Muhyiddin was not finance minister (then).
“The revelation of this document confirmed my suspicion that the documents signed by the (present) Prime Minister cum Finance Minister are not on the debt waiver of the Felda settlers but on the sukuk.
“To further avoid doubts on the Cabinet decision on Oct 14, 2020, which waived the Felda settlers’ debts, it is better that the government declassify the minutes of the meeting for the public to see,” said Dr Marzuki.
ALSO READ: Anwar says he will release proof of Felda settlers' debt waiver today
In recent days, there has been much back-and-forth between Anwar and Muhyiddin over the waiving of the settlers' debts.
In releasing the document on Thursday, Anwar was responding to Muhyiddin’s demand for an open and unconditional written apology from the Prime Minister over his claim that the Felda settlers’ debts totalling RM8.3bil had never been waived under Muhyiddin’s administration.
A letter of demand dated July 18 was issued to Anwar through Muhyiddin's solicitors, Messrs Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership.
Muhyiddin also wanted Anwar to furnish, within 24 hours of receiving the letter, signed documentation that he (Anwar) as the Finance Minister had, at the end of June, signed a debt waiver scheme for Felda settlers worth RM8.3bil.
