‘Felda management threatening us’

Twenty of 113 settlers from Felda Palong 9 lodged police report alleging that they are being coerced to withdraw suit filed in July this year.

JEMPOL: Twenty Felda settlers from Felda Palong 9 lodged a police report against the Felda management yesterday alleging that are being coerced into withdrawing a suit they filed in July this year.

Named in the report were Felda Palong 9 manager Salleh Muhidin, village head and Palong 9 Umno branch chief, Osman Parman and the committees members of the Settlers Development and Security Committe (JKKR).

Accompanied by PKR deputy secretary general T Kumar and Felda Palong 9 PKR branch chairman Mohd Salam Yusof, the settlers claimed Salleh and Osman have been intimidating the settlers into withdraw a suit they filed earlier this year.

One hundred and thirteen Felda Palong 9 settlers filed a suit against the management at the Seremban High Court on July 7 to seek restitution for losses suffered from an allegedly faulty choice of a contractor to clear their land.

One of the complainants Jani Maaroff, 53, in his report said that on Sept 16, he went to meet Salleh to get his approval for electricity connection for his newly-constructed shop but was threatened.

“I requested him to sign an application form that was needed to be submitted to Tenaga Nasional Berhad for electricity connection. Salleh threatened me and directed me to withdraw the suit if wanted his help,” said Jani.

Another complainant Misran Wagiran, 51 said that his wife went to meet Salleh in his office to get an “endorsement letter” for an application to get a driving license for one of his children.

“Salleh threatened my wife and asked her to withdraw the suit if she wanted to get the endorsement letter from him,” said Misran.

Jalil Othman, 57, in his report said that Salleh Osman and JKKR committee’s members launched a seditious campaign to ask the defendants to withdraw the suit.

“They said the Felda management will withdraw the Living Allowances (Elaun Sara Hidup) and the scholarships for their children to further their studies at higher education institutions.

“They also attempted to rattle us by saying our agricultural land (rubber and oil palm) will be abandoned and any dealings with the Felda management will not be entertained.”

Tricked into signing

One settler, Bain Haron, 61, shaken up by the threats, said in his report, he signed a letter as directed by Salleh to withdraw the suit.

Abdul Razak Atan, 51 in his report said he was also tricked into signing a similar form. “I thought it was related to my allowances for my weed killer spraying works.

“I’m a long sighted and on that day I had forgotten to bring my spectacles and just signed. Later I realised it’s a form to withdraw my suit against them”.

Kumar, who is also the lawyer representing them in the suit, said that it’s a constitutional right of the Felda settlers to file their case in court to get justice.

“The Felda manager and other defendants can defend themselves in court when the case is heard. It’s not right for them to threaten the settlers.

“Felda should protect the settlers’ right, not to threaten them,” said Kumar who is also the Jempol PKR vice chief.