A group of Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers has issued a list of five demands to the newly-minted Felda chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad, urging him to fulfil his pledge to look after their welfare.

To further its cause, the group Gagasan Peneroka Felda Bangkit untuk Sistem yang Adil (Bangkit) said it would hold a nationwide roadshow to garner support for its demands.

“We feel that we are not being given justice and our rights. Although we have gone through several avenues such as sending memorandums, holding discussions, and fighting court cases, the situation still looks bleak.

“So with the appointment of the new chairperson, we hope the situation will return to original,” Bangkit spokesperson Razali Ithnain told a press conference in Shah Alam today.

Razali, who hails from Felda Jengka 6, Pahang, added that plans for the roadshow are still in the works.

Shahrir was appointed to his post on Jan 6, while his immediate predecessor Mohd Isa Abdul Samad remains as the chairperson of Felda Global Ventures Bhd.

Among others, Bangkit demanded that settlers should be given the option to sell their oil palm fruits to mills that offer better extraction rates and prices.

Settler Abdul Rahman Ramli from Felda Serting, Negeri Sembilan claimed that even when fruit bunches widely recognised to be of high quality are sent to Felda mills, it is rated at a lower extraction rate than anticipated, and hence fetched a lower price for the settler.

Bangkit also demanded a fairer deal in agreements between settlers and Felda, claiming that settlers did not have any option or discussion before the terms of the agreement are set.

It wants Felda to be more transparent in dealing with settler’s debts and waive those that are ‘unreasonable’, starting by listing the debts the settlers supposedly owe in a detailed statement.

“Settlers should not be burdened with debt caused by the inefficiency and leakages in Felda’s management. Felda should look after the resilience of its business without neglecting the welfare of settlers.

“Felda’s opaque and irresponsible business practices would create an unstable environment and sow disharmony amongst the settler community,” Razali said.

In addition, the group wants Felda Techno Plant Sdn Bhd to be disbanded, and its plantation management and replanting operations to be handed over to settlers or settlers’ cooperatives.

“The ‘From settlers for settler’s concept' would motivate settlers to be more productive and profit settlers as a whole,” Razali said.

Lastly, the group wants the construction of homes for second-generation settlers to be expedited so that it can be handed over to the settlers.