Deputy Human Resources Minister Ismail Abdul Muttalib has defended Federal Land Development Agency’s (Felda) decision to deny dividend payout and Hari Raya cash aid to settlers who had taken legal action against the government agency.

He reportedly said Felda had taken the right and “rational” decision in doing so as it meets with the needs of a majority of the settlers.

“Hopefully this will be a lesson to Felda settlers not to be easily duped by the opposition’s political ploys,” he was quoted saying in an Utusan Malaysia report today.

However, Ismail, who is also Maran MP, urged Felda to check the list of settlers who had taken legal action against it.

“This is because there are those who did not do so, but their names are on the list,” he was quoted saying.

Utusan also reported that settlers who did not take legal action against Felda have received Felda Global Ventures (FGV) dividends of RM647 each and productivity incentives of RM300 each.

A Felda spokesperson had last week confirmed with Malaysiakini that the agency’s board of directors had decided that settlers who sold their land to third parties or had taken legal action against Felda would not be given any Hari Raya aid or dividends.