Look past Anwar for PM: Shahrir Samad

JOHOR BARU: Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad urged Malaysians to look forward, and stop thinking about how to make Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim the next prime minister.
He said the issue was raised before some 22 years ago.
"Times have changed a lot in the last two decades. Malaysian should not u-turn or look into the past all the time, and we should look forward instead. I just wonder how Malaysians can fancy one person for such a long time? The only answer I can think of is Malaysians are too desperate," Shahrir said.
He added that Malaysia has proved it is a well-managed country without Anwar's presence.
The Johor Baru Umno division chief said this when responding to a query from a reporter at Johor Baru Aidilfitri open house celebration here today.
On another matter, Shahrir who is also the chairman of Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) said he wants the Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) crisis, which involves allegations of corruption and abuse of power, to be resolved as soon as possible.
He asked angry Felda settlers to be patient: "FGV is still profitable, it paid dividends annually. The settlers are not losing money."
Shahrir said some 10% to 15% of settlers did not pay back the equity loan (to buy FGV shares) provided by Felda, but they are still share owners and entitled to receive the dividends.
Meanwhile, Felda also holds 33.7% equity of 730 million shares (special shares) in FGV , the dividends which are also distributed to the Felda settlers.
FGV group president and chief executive officer Zakaria Arshad, FGV chief finance officer Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha, FGV Trading chief executive officer Ahmad Salman Omar and Delima senior general manager Kamarzaman Abd Karim were suspended on June 20 while awaiting results of an inquiry concerning deals under Delima Oil Products.
FGV chairman, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad later resigned in the crisis.