In attempting to unhorse the BN in Johor, PKR will use the next few months focusing on loosening BN's grip on Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers.
According to Johor chief Dr Chua Jui Meng, this is because the settlers are the "battering ram" with the potential to shatter the Umno bastion.
"Felda settlements are the fortress of the Umno stronghold... You break into Felda (settlements), you break Umno in Johor," he told reporters at the PKR Congress in Pulai, Johor.
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KR strategy chief Rafizi Ramli (right) said that the focus on Felda is part of the party's general push to make up for the party's shortfall in Malay support.
"We don't to take a racial perspective, but want to focus on Malays who have been victimised (like) Felda settlers who have contributed to the economy for 40 years, but are now sidelined, have their incomes withheld, etc," he said.
The Felda focus, said PKR Felda and Orang Asli bureau chief Suhaimi Said, will be shored up by the Palong Promise - a Felda-specific manifesto launched by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim on Nov 21.
Reading from the manifesto launched at Felda Palong 6, Suhaimi said Rafizi drafted the manifesto with input from grassroots leaders and Felda settlers.
In the six-point Palong Promise, PKR vows to abolish Felda Plantations within 100 days of coming to power and distribute the land to second and third generation settlers.
Reading from the manifesto, he said PKR also promises to:
Asked if Pakatan Rakyat partners agree to the manifesto Suhaimi (right) said that the first two points of the manifesto are already in the Buku Jingga.
"For the remaining points, you will find that the PAS-backed organisation which champions Felda settler issues, Anak, also called for the same things.
"DAP had limited presence in rural areas, so they agree with PAS and PKR's views on the matter," he said.
More legal cases for Felda
For example, he said, Felda settlers received RM1,500 monthly subsistence allowance while awaiting their crops, but this is considered a loan by Felda, resulting in debts of at least RM90,000 after five years.
"So we ask for the financial statements to know the details of the loan. We believe that in fact the income from crops can go up to RM400,000.
"Deduct that with RM90,000 and it turns out Felda owes the settlers and not the other way round," he said to nods from settlers from Palong, Kahang and Lok Heng present at the press conference.
He added that a civil suit has already been filed by the settlers of Felda Palong 4, 5 and 6 in Seremban where they claim to have been cheated of revenue from their crops of up to RM150,000 per settler.
"We tried to negotiate with Felda but they don't want to negotiate so we were forced to file the matter in court," he said.
Meanwhile, Md Shah Ismail from Felda Kahang Barat submitted a letter appointing lawyer T Kumar to initiate legal action against Felda, for allegedly cheating them of compensation for their oil palm crops.
Md Shah is the main plaintiff in the case involving 130 settlers.
They claim that lab tests have found that their crops have higher oil extraction rates than that paid for by Felda.
"Felda has refused to negotiate with us so we have no choice but to file a civil suit to demand the rights of the settlers," he said.
According to Johor chief Dr Chua Jui Meng, this is because the settlers are the "battering ram" with the potential to shatter the Umno bastion.
"Felda settlements are the fortress of the Umno stronghold... You break into Felda (settlements), you break Umno in Johor," he told reporters at the PKR Congress in Pulai, Johor.
P
KR strategy chief Rafizi Ramli (right) said that the focus on Felda is part of the party's general push to make up for the party's shortfall in Malay support."We don't to take a racial perspective, but want to focus on Malays who have been victimised (like) Felda settlers who have contributed to the economy for 40 years, but are now sidelined, have their incomes withheld, etc," he said.
The Felda focus, said PKR Felda and Orang Asli bureau chief Suhaimi Said, will be shored up by the Palong Promise - a Felda-specific manifesto launched by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim on Nov 21.
Reading from the manifesto launched at Felda Palong 6, Suhaimi said Rafizi drafted the manifesto with input from grassroots leaders and Felda settlers.
In the six-point Palong Promise, PKR vows to abolish Felda Plantations within 100 days of coming to power and distribute the land to second and third generation settlers.
Reading from the manifesto, he said PKR also promises to:
- Cancel the debts of Felda settlers to the agency and to share out profits with settlers Develop a housing scheme.
- Not cheat settlers of crop revenue and oil extraction rates.
- Provide assistance and incentives to enhance the dynamism of Felda settlers.
Asked if Pakatan Rakyat partners agree to the manifesto Suhaimi (right) said that the first two points of the manifesto are already in the Buku Jingga."For the remaining points, you will find that the PAS-backed organisation which champions Felda settler issues, Anak, also called for the same things.
"DAP had limited presence in rural areas, so they agree with PAS and PKR's views on the matter," he said.
More legal cases for Felda
For example, he said, Felda settlers received RM1,500 monthly subsistence allowance while awaiting their crops, but this is considered a loan by Felda, resulting in debts of at least RM90,000 after five years.
"So we ask for the financial statements to know the details of the loan. We believe that in fact the income from crops can go up to RM400,000.
"Deduct that with RM90,000 and it turns out Felda owes the settlers and not the other way round," he said to nods from settlers from Palong, Kahang and Lok Heng present at the press conference.
He added that a civil suit has already been filed by the settlers of Felda Palong 4, 5 and 6 in Seremban where they claim to have been cheated of revenue from their crops of up to RM150,000 per settler.
"We tried to negotiate with Felda but they don't want to negotiate so we were forced to file the matter in court," he said.
Meanwhile, Md Shah Ismail from Felda Kahang Barat submitted a letter appointing lawyer T Kumar to initiate legal action against Felda, for allegedly cheating them of compensation for their oil palm crops.
Md Shah is the main plaintiff in the case involving 130 settlers.
They claim that lab tests have found that their crops have higher oil extraction rates than that paid for by Felda.
"Felda has refused to negotiate with us so we have no choice but to file a civil suit to demand the rights of the settlers," he said.
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