PUTRAJAYA must not hand over plantation firm Felda Global Ventures Holdings Berhad (FGVH) to a private tycoon, said a Felda activist as it must continue to belong to the people.

Mazlan Aliman, who heads an alliance of settlers’ welfare groups, said the federal government is looking to have local tycoon Syed Mokhtar Albukhary take over FGVH.

“We won 19 out of 52 Felda seats in the last general election. We highlighted the plight of the settlers and because of that we are here today as the federal government,” he told Amanah delegates at the party’s annual convention in Shah Alam today.

“But I must say there is an attempt by a third party to take over FGVH. I must disclose this, the third party is Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.

“I urge Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pakatan Harapan not to allow such a thing to happen. I was told that a meeting is going to be held tomorrow between this third party and the government.

“If we allow this (take over FGVH) to happen, we are betraying the settlers, we are betraying the people.

“The land title belongs to the people, this is what we have been fighting for,” said Mazlan, who is also Amanah central committee member.

Business daily The Edge had reported that Syed Mokhtar was planning to take a 20% stake in FGVH. – December 8, 2019.