FELDA settlers will not receive cash handouts for Hari Raya from the government this year, Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali was reported saying tonight.

This is because Putrajaya prefers to focus on long-term solutions instead of “piecemeal measures”, he said, adding that the government had already allocated RM6.23 billion for the cash-stricken agency’s rehabilitation.

“As of now, we do not have plans (for Hari Raya handouts) because we want to channel money (to the schemes under the rehabilitation plan),” Malaysiakini quoted Azmin as saying after attending a breaking of fast event in Taman Seri Gombak.

He added that it was already a challenge for Putrajaya to cough up the funds for Felda’s rescue plan as the country is in heavy debt.

“We do not want to spend money (on things) that will not benefit Felda settlers. We will give priority to sustainable, long-term solutions, and not on piecemeal, unhelpful measures,” the portal reported him saying.

Azmin first announced the government’s RM6.23 billion to rescue Felda in April when tabling a white paper on the agency in Parliament.

The allocation is in the form of loans, grants and government guarantees for the agency to restructure its loans and the debts taken by the settlers, as well as to create new agricultural activities for settlers’ children.

When tabling the white paper, Azmin had also said Felda’s debts had gone up by 1,100% from RM1.2 billion in 2007 to RM14.4 billion in 2017 due to the previous Barisan Nasional administration’s mismanagement of the agency and the land scheme. – May 22, 2019.