SHAHRIR DISMISSES MUHYIDDIN’S CLAIMS

PPBM president’s claims are to gain trust from his supporters

FEDERAL Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad has dismissed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) claims that support for Umno in Felda settlements had shifted to opposition parties.

He said PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s claim that the 54 Felda settlements nationwide were no longer Umno strongholds was merely to demand the latter’s supporters to believe in him.

“He is entitled to his view. As the (general) election gets nearer, this is not an entirely new situation. Everyone has their own propaganda.

“We have gone though many elections. Pas, PKR, DAP have all said the same thing and now it is PPBM’s turn,” he said after attending Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd’s (SPNB’s) 20th anniversary celebration at Menara Felda here yesterday.

Shahrir, who is also Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Council chairman, said Umno was preparing for the general election.

“We know who the settlers are and we have Umno branches in the Felda schemes,” he said.

When asked if they had a new strategy to capture votes in the settlements, he said: “We have good leadership and integrity. We also ensure that services delivered to the settlers are upgraded and improved”.

Muhyiddin had on Wednesday said BN should not dream that Felda settlements were still its strongholds, adding that the opposition was well received by the Felda community.

Sharir said the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into the purchase of a hotel in London by Felda’s subsidiary, Felda Investment Corporation (FIC), was not the same hotel Felda was disposing of.

“The hotel that is being investigated is under FIC. The one we are disposing of is under Felda.

“Whatever it is, if there is a case, it does not mean that we cannot dispose of the hotel, but the process of selling the one in London is happening.

“That is not the hotel that is being investigated. But even if there is a case there, it would not stop us from disposing of it,” he said.

We have good leadership and integrity. We also ensure that services delivered to the settlers are upgraded and improved. TAN SRI SHAHRIR ABDUL SAMAD Felda and Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Council chairman