THE Council of Eminent Persons is open to the idea that a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Felda is necessary, said Mazlan Aliman.

The National Felda Settlers’ Children’s Association chairman said that the council could investigate the leakage and losses incurred by Felda and their subsidiaries, who bear a debt of more than RM6 billion.

“The Felda community does not know what is happening with its finances. We see that Felda’s financial condition is very critical.

“According to the state audit report as of December 31, 2016, Felda’s net loss is RM 1.3 billion, with an incurred debt of RM 6 billion.

“We ask that a RCI be established so they can reveal what had happened, especially during Isa Samad’s time,” he said after a 30-minute meeting with the council at Menara Ilham, Kuala Lumpur.

The meeting was chaired by Daim Zainuddin. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Hassan Marican, and Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram were the other members present. The fifth member, Robert Kuok Hock Nien, is based in Hong Kong.

Mazlan presented a 46-page document with recommendations that were accepted by the council.

He said his proposals included looking at all the roles of Felda subsidiaries responsible for the replanting.

Mazlan said he hoped the Pakatan Harapan government would help dispose of half of their debts, as stated in their manifesto, and give incentives to settlers in conjunction with Hari Raya.

“We have raised the promise to help dispose of the settlers’ debts. It is quite serious, as their debt has reached RM100,000 per person, and may increase if there is no mechanism to curb it.”

Also present at the meeting today were former Felda general manager Hanapi Suhada, Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd chairman Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim and Felcra chief executive officer, Zulkarnain Md Eusope. – May 18, 2018.