Felcra expects 2017 interim dividend to rise to RM320 mln

BERA: Felcra Bhd (Felcra) expects its interim dividend payment for more than 70,000 participants nationwide to increase to RM320 million this year from RM301 million last year.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob attributed the increase to better palm fresh fruit bunch harvest due to good weather and rising palm oil prices in the global market.

He said the 1/2017 interim dividend payment of RM86 million was paid out before Aidilfitri this year, while the 2/2017 interim dividend payment of RM101.5 million was being disbursed to the participants following an announcement on Dec 10.

The 3/2017 interim dividend payment of RM86 million will be distributed in March next year, he told reporters after presenting the Interim Dividend for 2/2017 to the participants of Felcra Bhd in Felda Temangau here yesterday.

Ismail Sabri, also Member of Parliament for Bera, said the amount of the interim dividend was expected to exceed RM101.5 million as the weather this year was better than last year, whereby some states were affected by floods resulting in reduced fresh fruit bunch harvest.

He said on average, each participant with at least 1.2 hectares of land received RM800 of interim dividend for 1/2017, RM1,150 (interim dividend for 2/2017), while for the interim dividend for 3/2017 was expected to increase to RM2,000.

Ismail Sabri said the continuous dividend payments made during the festive seasons and early schooling session proved the government’s concern on the well-being of the participants.

At the event, he also announced the interim dividend for 2/2017 of RM17.3 million for 9,794 participants from 30 Felcra schemes throughout Pahang.

He also presented dividend to the 216 participants of the Felcra Temangau scheme. Present was Felcra Bhd Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zulkarnain Md Eusope. — Bernama