Several Malay voters, whose parents worked as Felda Tersang settlers, are expected to boycott the Jan 28 Batu Talam by-election in Pahang.

These voters are upset that their applications to cultivate land had been frozen by Felda for several years.

Met over the weekend, the group claimed that they were interviewed by the Felda management in 1995 and 2000.

According to them, Felda wanted to take in 200 new settlers to fill the vacancies in Tersang 1, 2 and 3 which was opened in 1980.

Following the freeze, some 2,000 acres that was supposed to be handed to the settlers is now being developed by Felda Plantation with its workers being paid RM25 per day.

Through the Felda scheme, each settler would receive an allocated lot to construct a house and 10 acres for oil palm plantation.

"I have heard rumours that many settlers in the Tersang area are not going to vote because their applications to become settlers were not entertained.

"It is as if Felda is playing around with these young men. The land would in fact be surrendered to Felda Plantation for development and worked on by foreign workers,"said Felda 2 settler Noor Ismail after attending a ceremony officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Other unemployment

In this Sunday's by-election, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram will face Independent candidate Ng Chee Peng. The opposition have boycotted the polls in order to press for electoral reforms.

The seat fell vacant following the death of BN incumbent Tengku Paris Tengku Razlan in December.

Two years ago, Noor said Felda announced that it could not take in all the applicants as over 12,000 people had applied for the settler status.

This announcement frustrated the children of settlers as they would have to look for other employment, he added.

Another settler, Rosli Mohd Ramli, from Tersang 3, also expressed disappointment with Felda's decision.

He said the children of settlers were forced to abandon their wish to continue the family tradition.

"I do not agree with Felda's decision to stop taking new applications. The children of settlers should be given opportunity to work the land.

"They are the most qualified to become settlers because of their experience," he added.