THE unity government is taking proactive steps to resolve four issues involving infrastructure in Felda settlements, namely streetlights, rural health clinics, telecommunications, and security checkpoints. 

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said surveys conducted by independent bodies revealed that lack of streetlights and health clinics were among the main grouses of the Felda community.  

He said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, at the Felda Day celebrations in July, announced an allocation for street lighting of RM7.7 million per year for Felda residents. 

“I had also discussed with the Health Minister (Dr Zaliha Mustafa) for Felda settlements to be given priority. We will soon see this when the prime minister tables Budget 2024, where among the priority projects will be to develop and upgrade rural health clinics in the Felda areas,” he said.  

Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said telecommunications was another issue lamented by the Felda community, and the matter had now received the attention of Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil. 

The deputy prime minister said he had personally requested that most Felda areas be equipped with Starlink satellite devices. 

As for security checkpoints, he said the matter had been entrusted to Felda chairman Ahmad Shabery Cheek.  

Zahid said menteris besar, elected representatives, and government agency heads must make it a point to meet the grassroots to understand the problems they faced.  

“The government-knows-all era is over, and so has the era in which the government thinks it is right. We must go down to the ground, the people’s grievances must be heard so that more informed decisions can be made for them. That is the government’s approach now. – Bernama, September 30, 2023.