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BERA – Caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has described Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers as “very loyal voters” for Barisan Nasional.
Speaking at the Himpunan Keluarga Felda, Teguh Bersama programme at Felda Mayam here, he said he hoped that they would continue to ensure victory for the coalition in Pahang and at the federal level in the looming general election.
“I guarantee that if we win big, there will be political stability, our economy will improve. The ones to benefit will be all of you as loyal citizens.
“Felda (settlers) are our real fixed deposit. They are the ones who have been very loyal to the government that we led before,” he said at the event, which was also attended by Pahang’s caretaker menteri besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Felda chairman Tan Sri Idris Jusoh.
The Election Commission has set November 19 as polling day for the coming national polls, while nomination is on November 5, and early voting is on November 15.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said the government will continue to take care of Felda settlers, including the second generation.
He said the various incentives given to the settlers since the programme’s inception were proof of how they have been and will remain special to the government.
“Even when Felda was deluged with problems, the settlers were never neglected,” he said.
In fact, Ismail Sabri said the government’s special treatment was not only limited to the settlers but had also been extended to their second generation as proven by the various incentives announced for the group recently.
He said this includes the improvements made to the Felda New Generation Housing Project (PGBF) with the introduction of the Felda generation land lot initiative – which saw 8,670 land lots being identified, 770 of which had been approved.
“For Bera (PGBF), I hope it can be expedited if the site has been identified… call for interviews immediately if there’s an application, expedite approval for the second generation,” he said.
Apart from that, Ismail Sabri said Felda had allocated RM20 million – as well other government allocations for the group under Budget 2023 – as housing loans for young people, including the second generation of Felda settlers, through the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme.
The prime minister also told Felda to reduce bureaucracy and expedite the applications for the Felda Youth Entrepreneur Fund – which has been allocated a revolving fund of RM10 million – to the second generation.
He said 23 applications had been received so far. – Bernama, October 27, 2022