By Jamilah Kamarudin - Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: Since its inception more than five decades ago, the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has brought about many changes and helped improve the lives of Bumiputeras.
PETALING JAYA: Since its inception more than five decades ago, the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) has brought about many changes and helped improve the lives of Bumiputeras.
Efforts by the late premier Tun Abdul Razak in 1956 were the starting point of the plan to improve and enhance the economy of the Malays, especially the rural community.
At the beginning, Felda aimed at balancing the distribution of the economic and social status and reduce the economic gap within the community and other races.
Land as vast as 4.046 hectares (10acres) for agriculture and 0.809 hectares (two acres) for housing were set aside for settlers.
The rapid growth of Felda’s agriculture sector is a result of the settlers’ toil and and Felda has gone on to become among the richest government agencies after Petronas. It also offered all kinds of loan schemes with high interest to settlers.
But Razak’s philosophy of “giving land to those who do not have” and “enriching the poor” are no longer embraced by the Felda leadership.
The agency has deteriorated since coming under the Prime Minister’s Department in 2004.
Felda’s strategic policy of agriculture was changed to corporate industry through the setting up of Felda Plantation and its 23 subsidiaries. Although the subsidiaries offered lucrative returns, they however also jeopardised the rights of settlers and their inheritors.
Aside from the unsatisfactory extraction grade (KPG -kadar perahan gred) of the palm oil, there were also allegations of manipulation of grades, and issues over their deposits in the Replanting Fund and quality of the oil palm.
The settlers were further burdened by the high interest on loans on the lands which were mortgaged to Felda.
Fulfil social obligation
Several groups have stood up against the mismanagement and began exposing Felda's wrongdoings. Among the more active NGOs, is the National Association for Children of Settlers (Anak).
Its president, Mazlan Aliman, wants Felda to fulfil its social obligation as an agency that takes care of the welfare of the settlers and not just act as a corporate body focused on profits.
"This is the reason that we and the settlers all over the country are beginning to take court action against Felda. The key reason is the swindling and cheating involved in the extraction process,” he said.
After Serting Hill filed its summons, the Raja Alias scheme in Seremban followed suit with a RM200 million summons.
Mazlan expects more schemes in Felda Pahang to do the same.
“I am quite sure the settlers in Pahang will rise to voice their right after several meetings with Felda Chini last week and the setting up of an action committee in Bera and Kratong Felda schemes.
“The Felda Bera scheme will make the first move with the participation of 4,000 settlers and we will file for legal action in November at the latest. This will be followed by Felda Chini and Kratong.
“Anak (the association) and our lawyers R Sivarasa, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, and Nizam Abdul Hamid will go down to the ground in Pahang next week to study the documents and hold briefings with the settlers. I will also visit Jengka 17 soon to organise a briefing for settlers there,” he said.
At the beginning, Felda aimed at balancing the distribution of the economic and social status and reduce the economic gap within the community and other races.
Land as vast as 4.046 hectares (10acres) for agriculture and 0.809 hectares (two acres) for housing were set aside for settlers.
The rapid growth of Felda’s agriculture sector is a result of the settlers’ toil and and Felda has gone on to become among the richest government agencies after Petronas. It also offered all kinds of loan schemes with high interest to settlers.
But Razak’s philosophy of “giving land to those who do not have” and “enriching the poor” are no longer embraced by the Felda leadership.
The agency has deteriorated since coming under the Prime Minister’s Department in 2004.
Felda’s strategic policy of agriculture was changed to corporate industry through the setting up of Felda Plantation and its 23 subsidiaries. Although the subsidiaries offered lucrative returns, they however also jeopardised the rights of settlers and their inheritors.
Aside from the unsatisfactory extraction grade (KPG -kadar perahan gred) of the palm oil, there were also allegations of manipulation of grades, and issues over their deposits in the Replanting Fund and quality of the oil palm.
The settlers were further burdened by the high interest on loans on the lands which were mortgaged to Felda.
Fulfil social obligation
Several groups have stood up against the mismanagement and began exposing Felda's wrongdoings. Among the more active NGOs, is the National Association for Children of Settlers (Anak).
Its president, Mazlan Aliman, wants Felda to fulfil its social obligation as an agency that takes care of the welfare of the settlers and not just act as a corporate body focused on profits.
"This is the reason that we and the settlers all over the country are beginning to take court action against Felda. The key reason is the swindling and cheating involved in the extraction process,” he said.
After Serting Hill filed its summons, the Raja Alias scheme in Seremban followed suit with a RM200 million summons.
Mazlan expects more schemes in Felda Pahang to do the same.
“I am quite sure the settlers in Pahang will rise to voice their right after several meetings with Felda Chini last week and the setting up of an action committee in Bera and Kratong Felda schemes.
“The Felda Bera scheme will make the first move with the participation of 4,000 settlers and we will file for legal action in November at the latest. This will be followed by Felda Chini and Kratong.
“Anak (the association) and our lawyers R Sivarasa, Wan Rohimi Wan Daud, and Nizam Abdul Hamid will go down to the ground in Pahang next week to study the documents and hold briefings with the settlers. I will also visit Jengka 17 soon to organise a briefing for settlers there,” he said.
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