Muhyiddin said Idris was known to be close to the government, which might make the public doubt the fairness of his investigation.

“It’s better to appoint an audit firm which would be more credible in carrying out an independent investigation.

“I know who Idris Jala is but the public wants an investigation that is fair and free of outside influence.

“An independent company engaged to make the investigation would not have any partiality or close connection with the prime minister (Najib Razak) or the government.

“So, it could be depended on to produce a true report to enable the public to know the cause of the crisis in FGV,” he said at a media conference at PPBM headquarters today.

Idris, a former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, was appointed yesterday by the government to “recommend the way forward” for FGV.

His appointment came after the FGV board of directors ordered four senior executives of the company to go on forced leave, including its president and CEO, Zakaria Arshad, to enable an internal investigation of a delayed payment by Afghan company Safitex to FGV subsidiary Delima Oil Products Sdn Bhd.

The three others are the chief financial officer of FGV Ahmad Tifli Mohd Talha, senior general manager of Delima Oil Products Kamarzaman Karim and FGV Trading CEO Ahmad Salman Omar.

Muhyiddin said FGV chairman Isa Samad by right should have stepped down earlier as he had failed to resolve the turmoil in the company.

“When such a serious crisis hits FGV, the person responsible after the prime minister is Isa but, unfortunately, the prime minister who is responsible for Felda did not remove Isa.

“I question the wisdom of the prime minister in making decisions which have resulted in prolonging the problem,” he said.