Over 10,000 settlers return to Felda
It shows the people have trust and confidence in the agency, says Najib
BENTONG: A total of 10,338 settlers have made a return to the scheme, six months after the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) offered them a second chance, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
According to the Prime Minister, the settlers consisted of those who have sued Felda and those who have not sent their produce to Felda.
This brings the total number of settlers to 105,294, Najib said.
“This proves that settlers have trust and confidence in Felda.
“At the same time, it rubbishes all the allegations and empty talk which claimed that Felda settlers are no longer with the Government,” he said when launching the Felda 2.0 initiative at Felda Lurah Bilut yesterday.
Last July, Najib had given the Felda settlers a second chance to return to the land development scheme when he announced six incentives during the Felda Settlers Day 2017 celebration in Putrajaya.
The Felda 2.0 is an initiative to transform all 317 land schemes across the country into a smart and sustainable economy.
It is also an initiative that emphasises an “open and communicable” strategy that aims at creating a community that is resilient in terms of economy and environment.
The launch of the Felda 2.0 at Felda Lurah Bilut by Najib is a symbolic moment, as the first Felda settlement was set up there in 1958 by his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who was also the second premier.
“It is meaningful because we are aiming to bring the community here up on par with current developments. Even when time goes on and we keep modernising, the pioneering spirit must burn continuously.
“Perhaps the Felda pioneers of today are not settlers but they can be e-commerce entrepreneurs or professionals,” Najib said.
Present during the launch were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad, Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaacob, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.
At the same time, Najib announced that the Government had approved an allocation of RM150mil for 15 transformational projects under the Felda 2.0 initiative.
Najib also said the Government was prepared to approve a Feed-inTariff solar energy quota totalling 80MW to 16 Felda schemes in 2018 and 2019.
Meanwhile, Nazir, who is also Najib’s brother, said CIMB group is ready to support the Felda 2.0 initiative by contributing through the bank’s entrepreneurial development and reforestation support.
“Felda, in fulfilling its noble role of ensuring inclusivity and equity in Malaysia’s economic development, has been an international icon for eradicating poverty and nationbuilding,” he added.
Separately, Najib also launched the Bilut Digital Valley project which would benefit more than 60,000 Felda Bilut Valley residents to enjoy high-speed Internet facilities, which was up to 100Mbps.
Approximately 6,000 settlers at Felda Lurah Bilut are set to benefit from the programme.
Later in Temerloh, Najib rapped the Opposition for raising seasonal issues, especially when the general election is around the corner.
For example, he said in the 2013 general election, the Opposition had played with the issue related to Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the rare earth processing plant near Kuantan, Pahang, which it claimed to be unsafe for the local residents.
“Even the International Atomic Energy Agency had concluded that the plant was safe and for five years after the election, nothing was said about the issue. It proved that the Opposition only raised it to cheat us.
“The same thing happened with the blackout issue in Bentong, the ballot boxes were closed at 5pm and the counting can still be done then, it was still bright,” he said.
After visiting Temerloh, Najib headed over to the Lanchang constituency where he attended the festive fish and duck catching event at the Paya Cempaka estate, where the main economic activity is fish rearing.