Zahid Hamidi : FELDA settlers should be grateful

FELDA settlers should be grateful, says Ahmad Zahid

 

FELDA settlers should be grateful and dismiss allegations by opposition leaders that the Barisan Nasional (BN) government neglected them from the mainstream of national development and modernisation.

 

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (picture) said the windfall of RM15,000 for each FELDA family proved the government's continuous concern for their welfare.

 

He said the payment also showed that the government had never lied to the people and always made good the promises made.

 

"However, this is not considered as a bait for the coming general election but is instead FELDA's contribution to settlers for the profits made through their products," he said in a statement here today. 

 

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the government had allocated RM1.689 billion which would be distributed in cash to 112,635 families, to be paid in three phases.

 

The first payment of RM5,000 would be given to heads of households soon, followed by a second phase of RM5,000 for their wives in appreciation of their contributions.

 

The final instalment of RM5,000 will be distributed to the children of settlers after FELDA Global Ventures Holdings Berhad (FGVH) is listed on the Bursa Malaysia next month.

 

Some 20,000 FELDA officers and staff will receive an additional 2½ months bonus this year.

 

He advised FELDA settlers not to be easily influenced by the claims of opposition leaders that the government neglected them from the mainstream of development. 

 

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Defence Minister, added that each settler should focus on what they had received from the government as well as the future of their families. — Bernama