Shahrir confident Felda votes will go to BN

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 8 years ago · Published on 21 Feb 2018 11:00AM · 5 Comments

Felda chairman Shahrir Samad says 93% of settlers are with the government. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, February 21, 2018.

SHAHRIR Samad does not believe Felda settlers will dump Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election.

The Felda chairman said his confidence is derived from the fact that his efforts to solve the land agency’s multiple issues and scandals have borne fruit and have been acknowledged by settlers.

“By our estimation, 93% of settlers are with Felda, which is around 105,000 people. What is there left for the opposition? What model do they have to offer settlers?” asked Shahrir.

The plantation giant has 121,000 settlers nationwide.

A total of 51 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia have Felda settlements, which has been a safe deposit of support for BN lynchpin Umno.

Bersatu, chaired by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is leading opposition bloc Pakatan Harapan’s charge to win over settlers in these areas. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the PH prime minister designate has had some impact with settlers.

Shahrir said there are some settlers who will never be satisfied.

“They are the settlers who are suing Felda, some of whom gave up their land and started their own businesses. To me, you cannot please everyone,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The Johor Baru MP said settlers had the right to support whomever they wanted in the general election.

“It is all right if they don’t support the BN or Umno. But it is our responsibility to take care of them,” he said.

Shahrir said his efforts to revitalise Felda since his appointment as chairman in January last year had borne fruit and cited the example of how he had convinced finance institutions to believe in Felda again.

“Within a span of six months we had solved the issue of banks trusting Felda. We do what is right, so the bank will believe us…correcting (our problems) is easy.

“In January (2017) I wanted to borrow RM300 million from the bank and they asked for collateral of RM600 million, but in June, the bank said it was ready to create a Sukuk instead.”

Shahrir noted that debt incurred by settlers can run up to hundreds of thousands of ringgit.

The debts are the result of an agreement settlers signed with Felda allowing the government agency to replant their smallholdings.

https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/24430/

“The debt of the settlers is not a lot actually, there are 9,400 settlers who have zero debts. They are role models to Felda settlers who still have debts.

“There are about 1,000 settlers who owe between RM150,000 and RM180,000. A small number considering we have 121,000 settlers nationwide.

“These settlers’ debts have become extreme not just because of replanting but because they are unable to pay back due to poor yields,” he said.

Shahrir said Felda has helped planters and had given them a RM40,000 replanting grant. – February 21, 2018.

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Comments

  • That's it - he think they have done his job by bailing out the most extreme indebted and leaving most of Felda settlers as financial customer of Felda Ah Long development scheme? Their answer is second generation of Felda settlers do not want to work the land and so, just make them rent seekers?

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • The opposition gives the Felda Settlers hope and a sense of belonging in the assets of theirs with new begining of a better life. Sharir you and Umno takes them for a ride and cheat them off their livelihood. The devious plan of short changing the settlers in all their hard effort leaves nothing short of contempt and hatred. Far too late to make a magic show to plaese them. They know that they are being treated like fools and please do not "syiok sendiri" that Felda will support Umno. All the self consolation are just self defeating actions.

    Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Coming from a dedak recipient, his prediction has some credence if mo1 spends all his pocket money buying the Felda votes.

    Posted 8 years ago by Panchen Low · Reply

  • What to do,u need a syok sendiri jab to make onself look good

    Posted 8 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • So many scandals, losing so much settlers' monies, why should settlers believe you this time?

    Posted 8 years ago by Yong Yeok Fong · Reply