'Felda settlers' confidence not eroded by accusations'

Unfounded allegations by certain groups to gain political mileage by discrediting Felda does not affect the confidence of settlers and its second generation in the agency's strength.

The chairperson of Gabungan Wawasan Generasi Felda (GWGF) Rozali Ismail said feedback and a survey revealed that the allegation that Felda was bankrupt was deliberately spread by the opposition and had no effect on the agency's operations in the land schemes as well as the livelihood of the settlers.

He said there was in fact no indication to substantiate that the government agency was going bankrupt when all transactions in the Felda areas were going on as usual whether at the Felda management office, cooperatives or shops.

"If Felda were bankrupt, everything would have been closed down, and there was also no statement from the banks to say that Felda was bankrupt. We don't want such lies to be repeated," he told reporters in Sungkai, Perak, today.

He said this after giving a briefing on the restructuring of the GWGF under the New Economic Model (NEM) and on current issues pertaining to Felda at the Felda Gunung Besout 1, here today. The GWGF is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) looking after the interests of Felda.

The Suara Keadilan in its issue for June 22-29 had carried a front-page story entitled "Felda Bankrap" (Felda Going Bankrupt) and on Thursday, Felda had filed a notice demanding RM200 million in damages and an apology from PKR pertaining to the report.

Rozali said the GWGF was also disappointed with a small section of the settlers who collaborated with the opposition on the issue because the opposition was merely exploiting these settlers for political gain.

He said the GWGF would hold a top level meeting of its legal committee next week to consider appropriate action on the allegation which involved the integrity of the settlers.

Played up by opposition

On the briefing held today, he said it was a follow-up to the GWGF top level meeting held in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.

The briefings to be given in Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Pahang later also aimed to obtain feedback and support on the proposed transformation in Felda with regard to the socio-economy and education among Felda's new generation of settlers throughout the country.

Earlier, Rozali received four memorandums supporting the proposed
restructuring as well as protesting the report on 'Felda Bankrap' that was being played up by the opposition in the Gugusan Felda Trolak, Felda Besout, Gugusan Felda Hulu Perak (Perak) and Felda Sungai Dusun (Selangor).

- Bernama