SOME 1,000 people, mostly Felda settlers, turned up at a Pakatan Harapan ceramah at Gunung Besout, Tanjung Malim, last night to see what the opposition had to offer that would improve their lives.

It was evident the settlers were split after listening to the speakers which included PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wah Ismail and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.

The second generation of settlers were generally more receptive to the opposition’s reform agenda, while their elders were more inclined to wait and see.

But both the younger and older groups were concerned about their large debts and the high cost of living.

Several settlers told The Malaysian Insight it did not matter who won the 14th general election, as long as these problems were fixed.

“We, the second generation, don’t mind who wins, as long as they can find a way to reduce our debts (from replanting) and reduce  the management inefficiencies in Felda,” said a 31-year-old settler who wished to be known as Annuar.

The 31-year-old tailor said there were limited economic opportunities for the younger generation in the settlements.

“Those who do well are usually running a business (in the settlement). It doesn’t help that the ringgit’s value is shrinking.”

After deducting costs, the average settler makes about RM20,000 a year, or less than RM1,700 a month, from his smallholdings. That is why the setller needs to supplement his income with a second job.

The top guns of PH were in Felda Gunung Besout 1 last night to woo the settlers, whose votes are crucial if the opposition is to  win Tanjung Malim for the first time.

Tanjung Malim has always been a BN fortress but recent visits from the prime minister and his deputy suggest that even the ruling coalition expects the fight to be close for the southern Perak constituency.

To win, PH needs a 5% swing in the Malay vote. Felda settlers make up about half of the Malay voters in Tanjung Malim.

A second-generation settler who spoke on condition of anonymity said the pioneer settlers had only recently accepted the opposition’s presence in Felda and they did not welcome criticism of BN.

“Back then, should I even raise a hand to greet PAS members, the elders would point their fingers at me. Now they are more relaxed.

“There are problems in Felda – like the debts from replanting, reduced harvests due to crop diseases, lack of foreign workers… but they don’t
like to hear us talking about it,” he said.

He said the younger settlers in the 30-50 age group were more open-minded because they get their news and information online

“The first generation still rely mostly on the television, and even then, on just one channel, usually.”

Most of the pioneer settlers who were approached declined to comment. Those who did speak were reserved and would not say which way they would vote in the elections to come.

Zulkifli Mohamad, 58, of Gunung Besout 2, said as a first-generation settler, he felt indebted to BN.

“We still feel indebted… (but) it’s up to the younger generation to decide who they want to vote for,” he said.

As of 2017, Tanjung Malim has 68,634 voters who are 55.5% Malay, Chinese (25.6%), Indian (13%) and Orang Asli (5.86%).

BN’s winning majority dropped from 14,693 votes in 2004 to 4,328 in 2013. And there are indications the margin could narrow further at the next polls.

Tanjung Malim MP Ong Ka Chuan, who is the MCA secretary-general and a federal minister, is aiming for a third term but is facing internal and external challenges. – March 17, 2018.