Group eagerly waiting for white paper to reveal Felda’s situation
KUALA LUMPUR: The white paper on Felda’s true picture, to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in its upcoming sitting, is eagerly anticipated by the authority’s settlers.
Felda Settlers’ Children Association (Anak) chairman Mazlan Aliman hoped the tabling of the white paper would explain the actual situation in the organisation to the settlers.
He said a proper explanation and understanding among settlers was essential to provide space to the Pakatan Harapan government to implement a turnaround plan involving Felda.
“We welcome the tabling of the white paper as there are those among Felda settlers who do not believe (problems in Felda) and that it was staged by the government.
In August, Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said the government had decided to present a white paper in Parliament in the next session to expose Felda’s real situation and its strategic rehabilitation plan.
He reportedly said Felda was facing a critical cash flow problem, but the government was committed to revitalising the agency for the wellbeing of settlers in line with the Land Development Act 1956 goals.
Mazlan said the issue of Felda’s weakness involving its corporate governance and financial management, including its RM8.025 billion debt, should have been resolved immediately when it was detected as early as the actual situation in Felda was necessary as the problems had affected the relationship between the organisation and the settlers.
“There are those who believe in such issues (the problems Felda face) but there are also no less of those people who think that it’s nothing more than a deception. I hope this relationship (between Felda and settlers) can be revived when the issue is resolved. Even though it may take some time, we are willing to wait.”
Mazlan hoped that the rehabilitation plan would benefit Felda settlers, who had been affected by the rising cost of living.
Anak is a non-governmental organisation representing the secondand third-generation Felda settlers’ children, and has a membership of about 10,000 people.
Former president of Kami Anak Felda Association Felda Fakhrurrazi Mohd Habib said the white paper would be a starting point for Felda’s revival, which would determine its actual direction and mission which was overshadowed by various issues.
He added that the government and settlers, comprising some three million people, should be united in determining the direction that the organisation needed to take.