UMNO and Barisan Nasional will not be the automatic choice for Felda voters that it was in the past, said settlers.

They said that BN, in which Umno is the mainstay, would be wrong to assume that it can go into the next general election by banking on this traditional fixed deposit of voters.

Their vote now, they said, would go to any Malay and Islamic-based parties that are able to solve their problems, especially those involving settlers’ issues.

Mohd Fadli Zainal Abidin, 52, was of the view that resolving their issues was the priority of every settler in the country.

“If they can resolve our issues, then (political parties) can capture the hearts of the settlers.

“Now my heart is hurting, the situation is stressful… any party can open an office here, people don’t care anymore,” he told The Malaysian Insight when met recently.

Fadli is a community leader who is a second generation Felda settler in Sungai Tengi, Hulu Selangor.

In the current situation, Fadli sees the advantage being on the side of former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin for writing off about 80% of the settlers’ debts, just before he resigned from the top post.

However, if Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob can resolve other settlement issues, Fadli said settlers would support him.

There are about 54 parliamentary seats within Felda constituencies, plus 92 state seats.

The issues involving the settlers have dragged on for the past few years – caused by management changes as well as drop in global prices.

Their problems range from low prices and the resulting debts, labour shortages, poor infrastructure and ownership of the plots they have worked on since the estates were opened.

Though palm oil has registered record prices this year, it remained a perennial thorn for settlers. On Wednesday the crude palm oil (CPO) price was RM5,066.50 per tonne

Over time, some of these issues have been addressed but not to the satisfaction of all settlers, who allege the management did not manage their farms well, resulting in poor harvesting of fruit.

“The reason given is that there was a labour shortage, but it has been years and the problem has not been resolved. If there are no labourers, how is the fruit to be picked on time?

“If the farms can be managed well, the proceeds will be plentiful. Then, the settlers can pay the debts and our problems are solved. What more do the settlers want?” Fadli said.

However, Fadli said the settlers were determined not to choose Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“If PH (becomes the government again) the story is simple, they won’t take care of Felda… and there was no help from them during their time,” he said.

Golden era under Najib

Felda Sungai Tengi first generation settler Ismail Halidi, 73, said the golden era for settlers was during Najib Razak’s time as prime minister.

“During Najib’s administration, the settlers were really defended, and various types of aid were channelled. After that, the (BN) government collapsed and the settlers seemed to be neglected.

“Settlers want only one thing: when the economy is good, the estates are managed well and perfectly, we can afford to pay the debt. If there is no result, how do we pay the debt, what do we want to pay?

On the other hand, Sayuti Abdul Samad, 76, said that the failure of the management put the settlers in a very difficult situation.

Despite admitting that he used to be a permanent BN voter, Sayuti sees the opportunity now open to any party to get the support of the settlers.

“For the previous general election, now it is not possible to decide which party to choose from Umno, Bersatu and PAS.

“In the past, it was BN, now not anymore… all Malay parties can compete, it’s up to them,” he said.

On July 7, the Muhyiddin-led Perikatan Nasional government agreed to Felda’s proposal to write off about 80% of settlers’ RM8.3 billion in loans.

The Pagoh MP said the disposal would be implemented through a conditional settler loan adjustment initiative, especially for the first generation, which would enable the land development plan to be successful.

He said the cancellation of the debt would facilitate the process of regeneration or ‘restart’ Felda.

Felda is currently working to take over FGV Holdings Bhd and turn around the company.

Felda chairman Idris Jusoh in April said the FGV acquisition was an important part of the Felda rehabilitation plan approved by the government to benefit 112,638 settlers and 2 million members.

Felda intends to take over FGV as it plans to terminate its land lease agreement with FGV for 350,000ha of plantation land at a value of RM248 million a year plus a 15% profit for a period of 99 years. – October 18, 2021.