Felda youths failing studies, excel in social ills, warns PAS MP

KUALA LUMPUR - Felda youths are failing in their studies, and many of them, failing to enter local universities, end up being involved in social menace.

PAS's Padang Terap member of parliament Nasir Zakaria gave this observation when responding to a recent answer in parliament which stated that only 6 percent of Felda’s second generation managed to pursue higher education in local universities.

“Too many are failing in Felda’s areas. Recently, a meeting decided to give free needles to those involved in drugs and this is something serious which need to be looked into by Felda itself,” he said.

Felda, or the Federal Land Development Authority, is a government agency tasked with the resettlement of rural poor into better developed areas, as well as providing financial help and infrastructure for opening of businesses and agricultural lands.

Recently at the Dewan Rakyat, Jasin MP Lilah Yasin requested details about Felda’s settlers’ children who had obtained degrees, and how many were involved in professional careers as well as steps by the government to recruit their service to help develop Felda.

According to Nasir, although 76,000 managed to gain entry to universities, the fact was that hundreds of thousands more were currently involved in social ills.

Nasir also questioned the newly formed BAPAK, the acronym for National Felda’s Settlers Complaints Bureau, which is an answer to the outspoken PAS-backed group, ANAK, or National Felda Settlers' Children's Association.

“Is Felda willing to work with an NGO like ANAK? Because of ANAK, BAPAK was established. Before this, there was no Bapak. But the minister has never wanted to mention Anak, which has been fighting for Felda settlers at the national level,” he said, in reference to deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Ahmad Maslan, who downplayed the highly critical ANAK's contribution to Felda settlers.

- Harakahdaily