BERSATU president Muhyiddin Yassin today demanded Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim step down for “lying” about the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration’s disposal of Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers’ debt.

Muhyiddin said his administration agreed to dispose of part of the settlers’ loans, amounting to RM8.3 billion, to relaunch Felda.

“Anwar accused me of not implementing the disposal of Felda settlers’ debts. This is a big lie,” the PN chairman said in a Facebook post today.

“The disposal of Felda settlers’ debts was already implemented when I was prime minister.

“This was confirmed by a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in a reply in parliament on February 23, 2023, affirming the settlement of Felda settlers’ debts was implemented in 2021,” the former prime minister said.

Muhyiddin said the unity government could not continue settling the debt.

“Due to Felda’s cash flow constraints, the PH-BN (Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional) government was unable to continue implementing the debt settlement,” he said.

However, Muhyiddin said former Felda chairman Idris Jusoh had made a statement on February 24 that the payment of the settlers’ debts amounting to RM8.3 billion had been completed in 2021.

Earlier this year, in a parliamentary written reply, Law and Institutional Reform Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said said the government was unable to continue waiving Felda settlers’ loans as announced by Muhyiddin during his tenure.

She said the about RM8 million waived in 2021 has had a significant impact on Felda’s cash flow.

“I am not the type of person who likes to lie and not keep promises. The one who likes to lie and not fulfil his promises is Anwar Ibrahim,” said Muhyiddin.

“With this latest lie, it is increasingly clear Anwar is not a person who deserves to remain prime minister,” Muhyiddin said.

Yesterday, Anwar expressed a commitment to dispose of 80% of Felda settlers’ debts, amounting to RM8.3 billion.

Anwar alleged the previous PN government failed to dispose of the Felda settlers’ debts as promised.

“It (initiative) was announced. I checked the file to see how much was needed. RM8.3 billion. Where is the approval? There was none.

“But it was already announced. I checked the file as I am finance minister. When was it approved? Not yet.

“There was no such programme until we (the unity government) took over. Last month, I approved the disposal of 80% of the Felda settlers’ debts,” Anwar said. – July 8, 2023.