AS Putrajaya tables a white paper on the rehabilitation of Felda in Parliament today, settlers of the land development scheme want Pakatan Harapan to stop blaming Barisan Nasional and focus on solutions instead.

“We want the present government to close the old books and start a new chapter. They must find ways to improve commodity prices and fix the old administration,” a second-generation settler, who only wanted to be known as Azizi, told The Malaysian Insight.

The 50-year-old said settlers like him were in debt and did not receive living allowances while commodity prices continued their downward trend.

“Every month, we have to pay RM380, as well as RM24 levy and transportation cost of RM90 per tonne. 

“With the commodity prices going down, our income is reduced, while costs remain unchanged,” said Azizi from Felda Gedangsa, Selangor.

He urged the government to find ways to improve the price of fresh fruit bunches, despite the price being subject to world demand.

Azizi’s debts are paid to Felda Technoplant Sdn Bhd, a Felda subsidiary established in 2005 to manage plantations and replanting on the settlers’ behalf.

He blamed the management failures of Technoplant as among the reasons settlers are in debt now.

Azizi said he persuaded his father to withdraw from Technoplant’s scheme but he still carries an RM67,000 debt. 

The management of Technoplant never issued any financial statement, except for estimates for its accounts, he said.

Let settlers manage themselves

According to Azizi, many settlers don’t want Technoplant to handle their work on their plantations.

Another second-generation settler, Rozita Mat Hayat, agreed with him, adding that she wanted the government to revert to the previous system where settlers managed their lots themselves.

Rozita, 50, disagreed with Technoplant’s method of distributing income equally among settlers, even to those who did not produce.

“I want out and I want to manage things myself due to the unfair payment system. 

“I want things to be like they were 20 years ago, when we managed our land ourselves and we knew how much our income would be,” said Rozita, who earns extra selling banana fritters at a roadside stall also in Felda Gedangsa.

Rozita said she was eager to know the contents of the white paper to be presented by Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali.

“When Pakatan Harapan took over, Felda’s financial problems were revealed. Now I hope they (the government) can resolve them.” 

One disappointment she has with the new government is the fact that Persatuan Anak Peneroka Felda Kebangsaan (Anak) chairman Mazlan Aliman was not appointed as Felda chairman.

Mazlan had been actively speaking out for Felda settlers against its BN-appointed management in the run-up to the 14th general election. 

“Why wasn’t Mazlan appointed? We want people who are passionate about Felda like him. Outsiders will not understand the Felda problem,” she said. 

White paper a second chance

Gone are the days when planting palm oil was a windfall for settlers.

Felda Gedangsa pioneer Idris Yusof, 68, said he remembered the 1980s, the time he came to settle and work the land that had just been opened up in Selangor.

Settlers did not know they were in trouble under the Najib Razak administration, however, when the government listed Felda Global Ventures Holding despite settlers’ disagreement, he said.

Settlers did not feel the effects of the losses immediately as the Najib administration kept handing out incentives and handouts.

“Many had opposed FGV but they silenced us giving settlers, their wives and children RM5,000 each,” he said, referring to the incentives announced by Najib in 2012. 

Last year, the alliance of Felda settlers’ lobby groups, Majlis Permuafakatan NGO Felda urged the government to take speedier action to remedy settlers’ woes.

If Putrajaya’s white paper outlines concrete and workable steps to rehabilitate Felda, then Muhamed Salleh said he will give life as a settler another shot.

“I have thought of leaving Felda and finding work elsewhere,” said the 56-year-old, also from Felda Gedangsa. – April 10, 2019.