THE group representing Felda’s second generation settlers lauded Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) promise to abolish the settlers’ “unreasonable and forced debts”.

Jawatankuasa Bertindak Suara Generasi Kedua Felda (SGK2F) advisor Zulkefli Nordin said: “That’s right! That’s what we want!”

“But they have to present the details. Without details, the goals can’t be met,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He was commenting on the pledges by PH in its manifesto. The opposition pact aims to fulfil the pledges within the first 100 days of forming the federal government, if it could take Putrajaya in the 14th general election.

On the settlers’ debts, Zulkefli said it was not that the settlers wanted to run from it, but most of them had yet to get detailed statements on the money they owed.

Since mid last year, the group had been raising issues on the debt statements. Without statements, the settlers did not know the details of the money they owed.

Zulkefli said until now, Felda has not addressed the issue.

“Felda dan Felda Technoplant Sdn Bhd (FTP) need to settle the statement issue, make the details easy for the people to understand.

“When they have a clear picture, they can check on their debts. Without having the details, they are doubtful,” he said.

Another Felda group, Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak) also welcomed the PH pledge.

Its chairman Mazlan Aliman said PH needed to do something more for second generation Felda settlers.

“There has to be a new mechanism that can allow them to get homes through an easy housing loan schemes, so that they are able to manage their parents’ plantations,” he said.

The debt issue at Felda is expected to cause some second generation settlers on Felda land to shift their votes from the ruling Barisan Nasional.

The debts reaching hundreds of thousands of ringgit were accrued after handing over the management of their plantations to Felda subsidiary FTP, is the main issue for many settlers.

Felda areas stretch across 53 parliamentary constituencies on the peninsula, with 51 of them considered safe deposits for BN for decades.

Knowing their significance to BN, PH’s Bersatu, led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has been going into Felda areas to campaign.

The Umno splinter party will be leading the opposition’s charge into Felda seats, contesting 27 of the federal seats. Meanwhile, PKR will take on 13, Amanah eight and DAP five. – March 7, 2018.