SETTLERS URGE GOVT TO FOCUS ON HIGH LIVING COST

‘There are more important matters than education financing scheme’

LAST week when Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali visited Felda Sungai Koyan here, he announced that new generation Felda settlers are set to benefit from an education financing scheme that will be introduced by March.

However, the announcement has not gone down well with firstgeneration settlers as they are less than convinced, and felt there were other more important matters that needs to be looked into.

Felda Sungai Koyan 3 settler Mustapa Ahmad, 66, said the issues faced by settlers were contrary to what were reported by the media.

“We are not against the government’s idea to introduce the scheme, but the government should study what are the actual problems plaguing the settlers.

“The cost of living issue is not something we are trying to create.

“It is a reality and the government needs to come up with a solution... the prices of commodities (oil palm) are not stable and should be given priority.”

Mustapa, who joined the Felda scheme 40 years ago, said most settlers had to take on part-time jobs to find an additional source of income because of the rising cost of living.

He said perceptions that Felda settlers were lazy and enjoyed a luxurious life were baseless.

“Look at my palms, you will know how hard I work.

“I have 15 children and the income from oil palm alone is not enough to support the family.

“Any government (picked by the people) is the same.

“We have to continue working hard to earn a living... I leave home after performing my morning prayers and even the village headman dropped by at my place recently thinking I was sick as he never saw me in the Sungai Koyan town (due to being busy with work).”

Meanwhile, settler Khamis Maasai, 72, said Felda schemes, which were established by the late Tun Abdul Razak Husein, had helped the settlers with a promise of a bright future for the first-generation of settlers who worked and cultivated oil palm plantations.

“Most of us (settlers) are not rich, we do not have land... if Tun Abdul Razak did not introduce Felda, we would never be able to purchase and own land.

“His (Azmin) proposal is good and can help the new generation of settlers to further their studies, or learn skills for their future.

“We must not forget that not only settlers are facing hardship but people in the country, too... they (the government) must try to resolve problems concerning the cost of living,” he said.

Azmin, who attended a meetthe-people session here on Friday, said the government was looking at measures and a suitable approach to assist Felda settlers.

Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Cameron Highlands by-election M. Manogaran blamed the previous government, saying that it created a lot of issues in Felda, including huge debts and settlers’ loans, which had yet to be settled.