The Malaysian Insight

SECOND-GENERATION Felda settlers, who are better educated and have access to more information, will pose a threat to Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election, said Jawatankuasa Bertindak Suara Generasi Kedua Felda.

Its adviser, Zulkefli Nordin, said Felda chairman Shahrir Abdul Samad did not have accurate information when he said Felda votes would remain with BN.

“The loudest voices in Felda will come from the second generation. The younger generation, who are better educated and who work as professionals, are not so easily swayed.

“They have been exposed to the broader mass media. The second generation will use their influence to ‘counter’ the votes of the first generation,” Zulkefli told The Malaysian Insight.

He said the average first-generation Felda settler was 70 years old and no longer influential.

“Many of them have handed over the management of their plantations to their children.

“And, there are many from the second generation who have taken over the plantations after their parents died.

“The first generation may confess that they are ‘totok’ (pure-blood) Umno. But, how much loyalty has remained?”

Zulkefli was responding to an interview given by Shahrir to The Malaysian Insight, where the Felda chairman said the majority of settlers still supported the ruling government as it was making efforts to reform the agency, following several financial scandals, and resolve issues faced by Felda folk.

Shahrir had said the majority of oil palm plantation settlers remained with Felda, and only a dissatisfied minority rejected the agency.

“By our estimation, 93% of settlers are with Felda, which is around 105,000 people. What is there left for the opposition?

“What model do they have to offer settlers?” Shahrir had told The Malaysian Insight.

Zulkefli questioned where Shahrir got the information – that the majority of Felda voters still backed BN – from.

“From Seranta Felda (liaison office)? Seranta Felda does not report the real issues to the higher ups,” he said, referring to the unit under the Prime Minister’s Department.

“From JKKR (Settlement Security and Development Committee)? A large portion of JKKR committee members, including the chief settlers, do not have good relations with the other settlers and the younger generation.”

Seranta Felda was established in 1981 to monitor the sociopolitical development of the agency’s two million settlers.

JKKR carries out functions similar to those of the Village Development and Security Committee, or JKKK.

Through JKKR, issues faced by settlers are channelled to Felda authorities.

Zulkefli said the three main problems faced by settlers were plantation growth, debt and oil palms’ reduced oil extraction rate.

“If Felda and the government can resolve these issues, I am confident that Felda settlers will give their undivided support to the government.

“If BN wants to win, resolve these three issues. And if they want to lose GE14, forget about these issues.”

He said although he and his associates had repeatedly raised the issues to Felda and the government, they remained unresolved.

As many as 51 parliamentary seats in Peninsular Malaysia have Felda resettlement schemes, which have long served as a “fixed deposit” for BN.

Opposition party Bersatu, led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is looking at contesting in 27 Felda seats, while PKR wants to stand in 13 seats, Amanah (eight) and DAP (five). – February 21, 2018.