Cooperative Boost For New Generation Of FELDA Settlers

SERDANG, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Monday the government is prepared to consider the participation of the FELDA Vision Generation Alliance (GWGF) in the FELDA Investment Cooperative 2 (KPF 2).

The prime minister said GWGF had shown interest in the cooperatives sector and was confident that its participation would benefit the settlers investing in the cooperative.

"We are prepared to consider the sound ideas and proposals of GWGF.

"Hopefully, the cooperation will bring greater progress to the FELDA community," he said at the Aidilfitri reception organised by GWGF at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) in Serdang.

KPF 2, a cooperative specially for the new generation of FELDA settlers, was approved in 2011 and is set to be an economic development model for the new generation, complementary to the FELDA Investment Cooperative.

Najib said GWGF was the best example of a non-governmental organisation that promoted government policies pertaining to development of the rural community and eradication of poverty.

As such, he invited GWGF to provide sound inputs and proposals to the government for the continued improvement of the income and standard of living of the FELDA community.

On another matter, the prime minister welcomed the setting up of a golf academy at UPM, citing it as an appropriate measure to uncover talents from among the children of FELDA settlers.

"The first generation of FELDA settlers were not good at golf; they probably played marbles, tops or sepak takraw. However, the second generation are a talented lot with potential and can become champions of golf (like in the GWGF annual golf championship 2014 held yesterday)," he said.

Also present at the reception were FELDA director-general Datuk Faizouli Ahmad and GWGF president Tan Sri Rozali Ismail.