BERA – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today announced an allocation of almost RM65 million for the implementation of five initiatives to help Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers and its new generation in various aspects, including housing.
The initiatives include a fund of RM20 million under the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme as the collateral for housing loans to be made by the new generation of Felda settlers so that they need not have to offer other collateral for a loan, thus facilitating the financing process for house construction in Felda generation lots.
The prime minister said Felda had also allocated a revolving fund of RM10 million to provide more opportunities to start a business or increase the capacity of the business to entrepreneurs among the younger generation of Felda settlers, involving interest-free loans of between RM5,000 to RM20,000, with applications to open in August.
“In a bid to provide necessary facilities for the new generation of Felda to reside in its areas, Felda has previously implemented the Felda New Generation Project (PGBF). I would like to announce that the RM7.6 million in monthly rent already paid by 2,025 PGBF occupants, as well as rent to be collected after this, to be counted as their deposit when they buy a PGBF house.
“This means, if the total rent paid for 36 months is RM10,800, then the price they have to pay for a middle unit worth RM90,000 will be reduced to only RM79,200,” he said when officiating the Felda Settlers’ Day 2022 celebration at Rentam Felda here, today.
The celebration themed Kejayaan Dalam Keberkatan was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Felda chairman Tan Sri Idris Jusoh, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and National Felda Settlers chief Jamil Mohamed Shariff.
Meanwhile, to help Felda rubber plantation settlers, Ismail Sabri said Felda would allocate RM6.1 million in management funds for 2022 to take over the management of the rubber collection centres from FGV Rubber Industries Sdn Bhd, which would reduce factory operating costs by 23 sen/kg for dry rubber, with an additional 5 sen when they reach the monthly target.
The move, which as a whole involves a reduction of 28 sen, will provide an additional RM11.2 million in income to 10,707 rubber plantation settlers, said the prime minister, who also stressed that the government and Felda had never sidelined the settlers.
In conjunction with the 66th anniversary of Felda’s establishment this year, the prime minister also announced a special development allocation of RM66,000 to every 317 Felda settlement areas, making a total of RM21 million that can be used to repair or upgrade infrastructure on the land involved.
Apart from that, Ismail Sabri also announced the change of the Felda Mara Junior Science College Premier programme to the Ulul Albab Programme starting in the 2023 academic year, which aims to produce a new generation of Felda settlers who excel in professional fields and adhere to the Quran and Sunnah. – Bernama, July 14, 2022
