Sole Indian settler has no regrets
PEKAN: Thirty-three years have passed since A. Selvaraju, a first generation Felda settler, decided to take up an offer to move with his family to Felda Chini Timur 3, the place he has since called home.
The 64-year-old has endured a bumpy ride, including living without electricity supply, earning a monthly income of RM400, spending long hours to cultivate his oil palm smallholding and holding two jobs to support his family.
He has no regrets as it was done in pursuit of a better future.
Selvaraju, who raised his six children at the settlement, said the Felda scheme played a major role in bringing hope and helping his family, who were once rubber tappers in Jengka, to climb out of poverty.
He clearly remembered the significant moment in 1987 when Felda made him an offer to move to Felda Selendang 1 in Rompin but he decided to go to the Felda headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to file an appeal to move here.
“I remember the officer informing me that there were no nonMuslims in Felda Chini Timur 3. I told the officer it was not a problem and that I would be able to adapt. The officer then offered me a three-month trial in case I wanted to move out but I fell in love with the place and its closeknit Malay community.
“I was in tears when I received the letter to move here in November 1987. I have five daughters and my youngest son was born in this settlement.
“Electricity supply was installed some eight months after I moved here and I was doing two jobs to support the family,” he told reporters when met at his house here yesterday.
Selvaraju, who did not complete his primary school education, said due to poverty his late father used to bring him along to the rubber estate in Jengka to help with rubber tapping in the early 1960s.
“Life was hard back then and my father took me out of school so I could help him. I worked in several estates and plantations before being informed about the Felda scheme in 1984. I decided to apply and was accepted in 1987, which was certainly a significant moment in my life.
“Despite being the only Indian family, the other settlers were helpful and we worked hard together to ensure a better future for our families.
“We were like one big family and since I worked outside, some settlers even helped to take my children to school on their motorcycle,” he said, adding that some settlers assumed he was an Indian-Muslim when he first moved to settle here.
Selvaraju, who is the only Indian settler among thousands of settlers in Felda Chini, said during the early days, many settlers were doubtful if he and his family would be able to blend in with the Malay community.
“You can see for yourselves how close I am with the rest of the settlers here. My family will visit our neighbours during Hari Raya Aidilfitri while they would visit my house during Deepavali. My open house is much awaited in the settlement as I serve seafood.
“When my wife was hospitalised two months ago, some neighbours visited her in Kuantan while some came to visit once she returned home. They even cooked and brought food for us and this has been the practice for many years,” he said.
Selvaraju, who has nine-grandchildren, said his daughters were married and lived elsewhere with their respective families, while his only son, Sivvaneshann, 26, stayed with him and helped with his transport business.
He said the Felda management had been supportive and had provided various benefits that have allowed him to own several lorries and tractors to transport oil palm fruits from the plantation to the factories.
“Felda has been providing a lot of assistance and incentives. Several years ago when I wanted to purchase a new tractor, one of the Felda managers recommended me to secure the loan. Felda has played an important role in my livelihood and my wife and I have decided to stay here until our last breath. I have everything here and my children can come and visit us anytime,” he said.
Port Dickson-born Selvaraju said he would not have enjoyed the life he had now if he had decided to remain at the rubber estate in Jengka.
“Even when I am no longer around, my wife and children can rely on the sale of oil palm fruits. I am fortunate to be accepted into this scheme as there were several friends who applied several years later but were not successful.”
Registered voters from the Indian community comprise 0.09 per cent or just 20 of the total 20,990 electorate in the Chini constituency. Felda Chini Timur 3 is part of the Chini state constituency, which will go to the polls today.