Liow: We boost the content in Felda settlements
BENTONG: Rohana Hanipah and her husband Hassan Bedu moved into Felda Sertik here 39 years ago.
They toiled on the land allocated to them, took up side jobs and saved up while expanding their family.
Today, two of their children are aviation engineers, one is a teacher, another a doctor, and two more are serving in the armed forces.
“There are many opportunities within Felda settlements as long as you are hardworking,” said Rohana, 56.
She and her husband were among the settlers who attended an event hosted by Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and incumbent Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on Sunday.
The settlement, with 1,920 voters, is one of eight Felda schemes in Bentong and 115 in Pahang.
Liow, who is also MCA president, said common problems faced by the settlers include insufficient housing for the second generation and job opportunities for the young.
Taking note of their predicament, he said the Government introduced Felda 2.0 to diversify economic activities and increase their income with programmes like e-Usahawan, smart learning and homestays.
“We not only upgrade the appearance of Felda settlements, but also their content.
“Private-public partnerships will also be introduced to launch housing schemes,” he said.
Liow, who is facing DAP’s Wong Tack and PAS’ N. Balasubramaniam in GE14, said no Malay tsunami was brewing within the Felda settlements.
“The settlers are very supportive of Barisan Nasional. They remember that it was the second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, father of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who introduced the Felda schemes.
“They have confidence in Najib’s leadership,” he said.
Adnan, meanwhile, said there has been tremendous development in Felda schemes since they were introduced in 1957.
“The Government has given the settlers quite a lot in terms of benefits and monetary returns.
“God willing, the settlers will remain with Barisan in GE14,” he said.
Settlers from Felda Mempaga 1, 2 and 3 gathered to meet Pahang Crown Prince Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah yesterday.
In his speech, Tengku Abdullah said he hoped that the state government formed after GE14 – be it by Barisan or the Opposition – would work with the Pahang royal family to continue to develop the state.
He said in jest that he secretly kept a file of every elected representative in the state and would evaluate their performance as people’s representative, minister and prime minister.
“I have known Najib, who was previously mentri besar, for a very long time. I am not afraid to voice out my opinion on issues in Pahang to him,” he said.