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SHAH ALAM - Umno Youth Chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has challenged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) Director-General to clarify who ordered the cancellation of the Johor Felda Settlers' Day celebration and banned Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi from entering Felda settlements.
Dr Akmal said the issue required immediate clarification after Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi denied issuing any directive to cancel the programme or restrict the Johor Menteri Besar's movements.
He noted that critics had initially blamed Ahmad Zahid, who serves as Rural and Regional Development Minister, and Felda Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek for the brewing controversy.
However, Ahmad Zahid clarified that while he oversees rural development, Felda technically falls directly under the purview of the Prime Minister's Department.
"If it was not an order from the supervising minister, Ahmad Zahid, then the directive Felda received must have come from someone or some party higher than him, quite possibly from the Prime Minister's Department or the Prime Minister himself," Dr Akmal said in a video posted to his Facebook page on June 24.
"This is my question. I am asking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Felda Director-General to explain who refused to allow this celebration to take place. Let us not hide behind the scenes. The public deserves to know."
The controversy stems from the sudden cancellation of the Johor Felda Settlers' Day celebration, which was originally scheduled to take place on 20 and 21 June at Felda Ulu Belitong in Kluang.
The national Felda management allegedly ordered the cancellation, forcing the event to proceed on a much smaller scale as a land title handover ceremony.
On 23 June, Onn Hafiz revealed that he had been barred from entering Felda areas to present the land titles to local settlers. This restriction forced the state government to relocate the ceremony from Felda Ulu Belitong to Dewan Dato Onn in Taman Sri Lambak, Kluang.
Ahmad Zahid has since reiterated that no such obstruction was sanctioned by his ministry.
"I never ordered or barred the Johor Menteri Besar from entering Felda areas," he stated.
