The government agreed to allocate RM100 million to Felda

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government agreed to allocate RM100 million to FELDA to cover the cost of operating farms following the targeting of subsidies.

Berita Harian reported, the Prime Minister said, this is because the government has implemented diesel subsidy targeting with the retail price of the fuel set without subsidy to deal with smuggling and leakage of subsidized diesel.

“This step is taken to ensure that the income of FELDA settlers is not affected at all,” he said while officiating the celebration of FELDA Settlers Day 2024 at the national level at the Malaysian Agricultural Expo Park (MAEPS) Serdang here, today.

Also present was the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

For the allocation for the SejaTI MADANI program, the Prime Minister said, the aid is targeted to have a positive impact on the FELDA community.

“FELDA’s involvement in SejaTi MADANI boosts economic activity at the community level.

“Therefore, the community is given the freedom to deliberate to decide on sectors of focus such as agriculture and food, sewing and handicrafts, herbs and health, tourism and hospitality as well as green and recycling activities,” he said.

The Prime Minister said that he is open to listening to all the problems of any party if faced with difficulties, but there is no need to curse or criticize, instead negotiate and discuss as best as possible.

Giving an example of the issues faced by settlers with the implementation of subsidy targeting, Anwar said that the Chairman of FELDA, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek met with him to voice the concerns of settlers following the government’s actions.

“After the Council of Ministers meeting, Ahmad Shabery told me the problem faced by the settlers. If it is true, we have to fix it, so I agree.

“In FELDA there are many sweepers who do not pay road tax, how (they) want to pay subsidies? So we have to negotiate carefully (between FELDA and the Federal government) to find a solution.

Anwar said the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid also met him to convey the concerns of FELDA settlers.

Sharing the problem, he said, Ahmad Zahid raised the issue of vehicles owned by settlers such as unregistered tractors and no road tax.

He said, he has no problem to discuss because he is committed to find a solution to help the FELDA settlers.

“Ahmad Zahid told me that the tractor (owned by FELDA settlers) has no road tax, is not registered. So we discuss and find a way to register with FELDA. We help in any way, that’s our way,” he said.