KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister Department Ahmad Maslan is out to allay fears that the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) is dying and insisted that it is still a viable commercial force with strong overseas investment portfolio.
Felda, the world's biggest plantation operator and seen as the last bastion of hope for the Malay poor, is at the centre of a controversy that may be one of the deciding factors in the outcome of the coming general election.
And the one most at stake here is the ruling coalition Barisan Nasional. With the opposition pact, Pakatan Rakyat, maximising its exploits on the issue, BN's grip on Felda, which is also considered its "vote bank", is severely under threat.
Pakatan leaders claimed that the body is a commercial giant dying from widespread corruption, which sees its cash reserve dwindling fast -- from a staggering RM6.2 billion in 2004 to just RM1.3 billion last year.
Such allegations have prompted a swift response from the government, particularly Ahmad, the man in charge of Felda affairs in the Prime Minister's Department.
"Felda has investments in 12 countries, including the US and Canada, to ensure that palm oil can be sold in the world market. Investments in places such as Cincinnati are long term to ensure that palm oil will be bought in the North American region," he told FMT in a interview recently.
Felda must be seen to make money
However, the perception towards Felda's performance has been at an all-time low. Claims of strong off-shore investments have not done much to reconcile the negative connotations brought about by opposition allegations with the vigorous Felda campaigns.
But Ahmad maintained that the truth will prevail and that no opposition political rhetoric can conceal the fact that enormous wealth had been generated from such investments.
"Of course, these investments will not yield immediate profit. It takes time because it is a long-term investment," said the Pontian MP, who is also Umno information chief.
Such reasoning is not unreasonable given Umno's dependency on the Felda votes. The settlement covers much of the states such as Pahang and Johor, with Felda voters contributing much of Umno and BN's strength in the two states.
Felda remains Umno's 'vote bank'
Until today, many states with large Felda settlements remain impenetrable to the opposition as evident in the recent Hulu Selangor by-election that saw PKR, the opposition bloc's lynchpin, losing to BN.
The Malay votes in the Felda settlements within the constituency proved to be PKR's stumbling block to retain the seat. Polling data showed its electorate there remained loyal to Umno.
Which is why Umno leaders like Ahmad is optimistic that Felda will remain a BN territory. Proof of this, said Ahmad, who is a Felda child himself, is the RM200 million suit against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and others by Felda after the party's mouthpiece, Suara Keadilan, claimed the body was en route to bankruptcy.
"The government has signed an agreement with JV Allana Iffco, a Dubai-based company, that will import palm oil from our country. All investments made is to ensure Felda generate huge long-term profit. Of course, they (Felda) would be angered if such allegation arises," said Ahmad.
The battle for the Felda votes is evident when Umno president and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak himself took painstaking effort to quash growing fears over the body's drying coffers.
Recently, Najib said Felda's shares in listed companies like MISC and Maybank are worth RM4.6 billion while it has in its hand cash reserve worth RM1.4 billion.
Ahmad said many of the Felda settlers are proud of its achievements and insisted that they owe it to the BN leadership for its success.
Felda currently has 225,270 settlers nationwide while 75% of them own their own land.
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