Timely and spot on, Felda settlers say of govt’s RM65 mil package

KUALA LUMPUR – Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob may have only led the government for 14 months, but Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers in several states have welcomed his efforts to improve their lot.

They note his humble and rural background, which they said made him attentive to settlers’ needs when crafting initiatives to help the community.

In July, Ismail Sabri announced a RM65 million allocation for several Felda initiatives, including for its settler development programme, which gave 56,699 settlers additional income of between RM250 and RM500 per month.

The allocation also involves RM20 million from the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme as collateral for financing the construction of housing lots.

Second-generation Felda settlers in Pahang, Kedah, and Johor said the initiatives under the RM65 million package will also help them in other ways – such as funds to launch businesses and help young settlers become entrepreneurs.

Mohd Johari Abd Khalid, 39, who hails from Felda Rentam in Pahang, said the package showed the government’s “people-friendly” approach towards settlers.

Additionally, Ismail Sabri himself often came to visit Felda settlements in the state, even while he was just an MP before becoming prime minister.

“He is indeed a simple person as he calls himself, easy to approach by anyone. There are no barriers between him and the people, there really is no protocol with him,” Johari told Getaran, The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal.

By coming down to the ground, Ismail Sabri is able to identify settlers’ needs and take them into account in the government’s allocation, Johari added.

“Helping Felda villages develop further is one of the package’s thrusts, there are also many other approved projects for settlers under Felcra (Bhd) and Risda (Rubber Industry Smallholders’ Development Authority), besides Felda,” he said.

This includes helping rubber plantation settlers under Felda cut operating costs at collection centres and increasing their income; providing funds to repair and upgrade infrastructure in Felda villages; and helping Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) ensure that Felda youths excel in professional fields.

Johari said aside from these initiatives through Felda, Ismail Sabri himself had been quick to render assistance for other localised issues, whether they be floods or property damage from fires.

Mohd Marbawi Hussin, 45, another second-generation settler from Felda Lubuk Merbau, Kedah, said the incentive to increase settlers’ income was spot on, as younger settlers like him may earn less – especially if land inherited from their parents has to be divided.

“We are managing the land inherited from the first generation of settlers. It is not enough because in one family, there may be five people, with only one person managing the land.

“So if the income is RM1,000, it has to be divided by five,” Marbawi explained.

He pointed out that, as the son of a rubber tapper, Ismail Sabri understands the hardships of Felda settlers.

However, on the RM20 million allocation for housing loans to settlers, Marbawi cautioned that there should be a way to ensure settlers and future generations are able to repay the loan, as no collateral is needed under this initiative.

In Johor, Pemanis assemblyman Anuar Abdul Manap, also a second-generation Felda settler, highlighted the RM21 million allocation to upgrade infrastructure in 317 Felda settlements, as well as the RM10 million set aside to help young Felda settlers become entrepreneurs.

“It involves interest-free loans (from) RM5,000 to a maximum of RM20,000 to help Felda youth from all over the country,” Anuar said, noting that applications for these loans had opened in August.

He also praised the RM6.1 million plan for Felda to take over the management of rubber collection centres from FGV Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd. This will reduce factory operating costs by 23 sen per kg of dry rubber while an additional 5 sen will be added if settlers reach the monthly collection target.

Amounting to an overall reduction of 28 sen, Anuar said this will provide an additional income of RM11.2 million for 10,707 rubber plantation settlers.

In an analysis of the package for Felda settlers, political observer Mazlan Ali said Ismail Sabri had chosen to focus on this group as he represented many of them in his Bera constituency.

The four-term Bera MP, who has been named Barisan Nasional’s (BN) prime minister candidate, will likely continue to pour in more incentives for Felda if he heads the government again.

“Ismail Sabri also comes from a rural-based family (so he understands). Since becoming prime minister, many agendas related to Felda settlers have been implemented.

“The problems facing second-generation settlers in Felda are home ownership, expanding their sources of income through business and entrepreneurship, beside the issues of cultivating their Felda land – such as planting new oil palm trees and obtaining fertiliser.”

Mazlan said Ismail Sabri had managed to address this with the RM65 million allocation that included government-guaranteed loans without collateral for settlers to build homes, loans to start businesses, and aid to deal with oil palm cultivation issues.

“Additionally, the government has also been mindful of education for Felda children by giving them opportunities to continue their studies at MRSMs. 

“The government pays a lot of attention to Felda settlers. BN has long made Felda a major agenda, as it is part of the backbone of the Malay community and contributes to the country,” Mazlan said. – The Vibes, November 11, 2022