Smallholders the suffering lot

I READ the current news on Felda Global Ventures (FGV) and the Malaysian oil palm industry with much chagrin and bemusement.

It seems as though it was just recently that FGV’s stock was listed and described as the world’s second largest IPO at US$3.2bil after Facebook (US$16bil). All the noise and joy then were on Felda expecting to deliver a windfall totalling more than US$500mil to approximately 112,000 small land holders, which roughly translates to US$5,000 for every settler. The world stood up, took notice and Malaysia was on the world map for the right reasons.

But now, what has befallen one of Malaysia’s pride and glory?

As our ex-premier, premier and politicians finger-point and bicker about who is to be blamed for the fiasco, the real issue and focus should be on the plight of the small land holders.

What was once a thriving promised land for them is now a contentious land of empty promises. These are real Malaysians with families to feed.

These are real people who toil each day to earn an honest living, and seeing them in this shocking state of crisis is really distressing.

The promises of better lives and lures of great returns were akin to a ploy played by the masked Pied Piper, to the detriment of the tens of thousands of families.

What’s worse is that with each passing day, more and more management scandals are being unveiled from within the organisation, and trust has further eroded on the people helming it.

As concerned Malaysians, we deserve to know if this current motley crew of individuals are truly capable of turning around the group’s fortune or will they milk away the fledging cash cow even further? In fact, do they really have the interest of the settlers and smallholders at heart?

What was once a shining pride of Malaysia is now a laughing stock. Only this time around, it is no longer a laughing matter.

E. K. ONG Shah Alam