PETALING JAYA: An NGO has called for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin to stop feuding over the Felda settlers’ debt waiver issue.
Persatuan Anak Peneroka Kebangsaan (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman said it would be more meaningful for Anwar’s administration and the opposition to set aside their differences and work together to help develop Felda.
“(From the perspective of) the NGO that participated in the engagement (with the government), Muhyiddin’s efforts as prime minister at the time cannot be ignored.”
Likewise, Mazlan said, Anwar’s announcement of special incentives for settlers on July 7 also brought much needed relief.
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In conjunction with Felda Settlers Day on July 7, Anwar announced a slew of initiatives for the benefit of the community, including health incentives, the construction of haemodialysis centres, diesel subsidies, as well as the maintenance and repair of street lights in Felda schemes.
He added that the government will continue to issue up to RM1 billion in sukuk to Felda annually for the next 10 years to ensure its survival.
Anwar had claimed that no allocations had been made under the 2021 and 2022 national budgets presented by the former PN-led government to resolve Felda’s debt issues.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin said he intends to sue Anwar for defamation over the prime minister’s claim that the PN government did not write off RM8.3 billion in Felda settlers’ debt.
Muhyiddin said the two documents Anwar produced to prove his claim did not concern the waiver of the RM8.3 billion owed by settlers, but the issuance of sukuk and revolving credit to Felda.
Instead, he also said the documents related to a government guarantee issued for RM9.9 billion.
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