Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) director-general Faizoull Ahmad has come under scrutiny after he was spotted visiting Scottish football club Glasgow Rangers yesterday, alongside a man reportedly wanted by the International Police (Interpol).

Scottish tabloid Daily Record’s photograph purported to be of Faizoull (left) and Rafat Rizvi also prompted outcry among Rangers fans, following speculation that the Felda top man is among investors looking to buy the ailing club.

Rafat, a UK national of Pakistani origin, was in 2010 convicted in absentia for fraud amounting to hundreds of millions in US dollars by a Jakarta court and sentenced to 15 years in jail.

This is for his role in the collapse of Indonesia's Bank Century, but Indonesia does not have extradition treaty with the UK.

He is on Interpol's wanted list, which is accessible online, for "corruption, money laundering and bank crimes", but reportedly sued the international body in 2010 to have his name removed.
 
Denying that Faizoull is buying the club, Rangers nevertheless confirmed that Rafat arrived at the club with a Malaysian delegation. 

"Mr Rafat Rizvi arrived with the Malaysian delegation without our prior knowledge. He is an adviser to Mr Bin Ahmad (Faizoull).

"Subsequent media reports suggesting Mr Bin Ahmad is in discussions with Rangers regarding anything other than youth development are untrue," a club spokesperson was quoted by the BBC as saying.

'Keep it quiet'

The club said Faizoull had visited Rangers to arrange a "youth development" programme between Rangers and the Malaysian Super League team Felda United.

It added that Faizoull (right) had initially requested that Rangers keep the visit confidential.

The Rangers’ Union of Fans also issued a statement urging the club to rescind any ties with Rafat and to remove Sandy Eastdale as club director.

Eastdale, who was convicted for fraud, had last year denied any relations with Rafat and said that the latter is not an investor in the club.

However, Daily Record reported that Faizoull and Rafat had lunch with Eastdale during the visit.

The Union of Fans also called on Rangers not to have any ties with Faizoull due to the Rafat link.

Rafat has denied all charges against him.

Malaysiakini is has contacted Felda on this and is awaiting its response.

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