A national settlers complaints bureau was launched Shah Alam today by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Ahmad Maslan.     

Bapak, the Bahasa Malaysia acronym for the bureau, is to tackle problems forwarded by settlers of Felda, the Federal land Development Authority, between seven and 14 days.      

It comes under GWGF, the Combined Vision of the Felda Generation, a non-government body looking after the interests of the settlers.     

Ahmad said the bureau would be manned by 317 volunteers, who will be the link between the settlers and GWGF.         

He told reporters after the launch that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak welcomed the opening of the bureau, confident that it would help resolve issues that the settlers face quickly.

Ahmad said Bapak was the brainchild of GWGF chairperson Rozali Ismail, who will finance the bureau.     

Although Felda settlers already had their own channel for complaints, Bapak  would still be of valuable service to them because it could help problems related to such matters as welfare and education, he added.     

"There is no question of rivalry because an increase in the number of channels can only help in handling problems faster," Ahmad said.     

Bapak operates from Plaza Sunway Mas 24 hours a day, seven days a week.     

It can be reached by fax, the Internet, telephone and SMS. Its toll free number is 1-800-88-4943.  

Ahmad, who is Umno Chief Information Officer, suggested to Rozali that he applies to Barisan Nasional to make GWGF an affiliate member.     

Rozali, who is the Selangor chairmperson of the Malay Chamber of Commerce, said he will take up the suggestion.     

- Bernama