'Windfall to arrest sliding support for Felda'
Published: May 8, 2012 3:38 PM | Updated: May 8, 2012 3:43 PM
The RM15,000 windfall for settlers announced today by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is intended to arrest the slide in support for the government among the Felda community.
The RM15,000 windfall for settlers announced today by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is intended to arrest the slide in support for the government among the Felda community.
"Anak has never rejected any form of gift or incentive given to settlers... but why 55 years after Felda was created?" Children of Felda Settlers (Anak) chairperson Mazlan Aliman asked.
"Is this a political show because of the scenario where there has been a change of attitude by the Felda community towards Barisan Nasional?" Mazlan added in a statement today.
He was referring to the string of lawsuits against Felda over claims that the body was shortchanging settlers on their oil palm produce.
He warned that the one-off payment could be an attempt to distract settlers from the risks they would be exposed to through the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd.
The prime minister announced at a Felda settlement in Pahang that in light of the listing, each Felda household will gain RM15,000 as incentive, totalling a staggering RM 1.689 billion for some 120,000 settlers.
Mazlan also questioned the source of the government's funding to implement such a huge payout.
He said Najib's announcement did little to address the woes of the second and third generations of settlers, who had to share limited land and housing.
"The prime minister's announcement is nothing more than an attempt to hold on to political power in Felda. The settlers may be pleased, but it comes as a disappointment to their children," Mazlan added.
"Anak has never rejected any form of gift or incentive given to settlers... but why 55 years after Felda was created?" Children of Felda Settlers (Anak) chairperson Mazlan Aliman asked."Is this a political show because of the scenario where there has been a change of attitude by the Felda community towards Barisan Nasional?" Mazlan added in a statement today.
He was referring to the string of lawsuits against Felda over claims that the body was shortchanging settlers on their oil palm produce.
He warned that the one-off payment could be an attempt to distract settlers from the risks they would be exposed to through the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd.
The prime minister announced at a Felda settlement in Pahang that in light of the listing, each Felda household will gain RM15,000 as incentive, totalling a staggering RM 1.689 billion for some 120,000 settlers.
Mazlan also questioned the source of the government's funding to implement such a huge payout.
He said Najib's announcement did little to address the woes of the second and third generations of settlers, who had to share limited land and housing.
"The prime minister's announcement is nothing more than an attempt to hold on to political power in Felda. The settlers may be pleased, but it comes as a disappointment to their children," Mazlan added.
View Comments0