Johor govt pushes for Felda Internet initiative
PAGOH: The Johor government, via the Johor Digital platform, will put out all the stops to support Felda’s effort in bringing broadband Internet to the Felda community.
Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the state government would ensure that no areas in Felda would be left out in the “digital super highway” to enable people to enjoy 21st-century Internet connection.
The move, he said, was significant for the independence and progress of Felda settlers.
Khaled said the second- and third-generation Felda settlers must seize the opportunities presented to them, given the availability of new resources, to remain relevant in the 21st century.
He was speaking at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s event with the Pagoh community in Felda Moakil here.
Khaled said the government would train thousands of Felda third- and fourth-generation
settlers and imbue them with a sense of professionalism so that they become skilled individuals.
The state government, he said, would work with the Federal Government to train 5,000 Felda millennials to become proficient in the modern agriculture sector over the next five years.
“We want them to become farm entrepreneurs and safeguard their future with technological ly advanced knowledge.
“We believe Felda descendants, while retaining their traditional values, must learn new technological skills.”
The state government, he said, had allocated RM1.5 million to train Felda youth via the Johor Skills Training Fund.
This was supported by the prime minister, as well as the Federal Government, in the form of a RM3 million allocation.
Khaled stressed that Felda’s land ownership initiative was viewed seriously by the state government.
“To us, it’s not just a piece of paper. The right to work the land signifies hard work.
“It is a symbol of devotion, perseverance and sacrifice on the part of Felda settlers.
“Felda land, mostly populated by settlers and their families, has a fascinating tale, with its roots firmly embedded in Johor’s history as a state,” he said.