Najib announces ‘duit raya’ of RM49.52m for Felda settlers

The government is giving a special raya cash incentive of RM500 each amounting to RM49.52 million for 99,046 Felda settlers throughout the country, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

In the initial stage, the ‘duit raya’ was only RM300 per settler, but when making the announcement Najib spontaneously agreed to add another RM200 each after discussing with Felda chairperson Mohd Isa Samad.

“The text of my speech today which had been prepared should announce the ‘duit raya’ of RM300 each, but after discussing with Isa, he said that in Kuala Kangsar we had given RM500 to Risda participants.

“So, Felda cannot lose, after making calculations I said it was okay, we add another RM200, hopefully this contribution can help the settlers prepare for the hari raya in a happier mood,” he said to loud applause from the almost 4,000 people present.

He disclosed this in his speech at the opening of the national-level Ihya’ Rahmat Ramadan program for Felda settlers 2016 at the Dewan Semai Bakti Felda Chini Timur 3 in Pekan today.

The function was also attended by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Razali Ibrahim, Pahang state legislative assembly speaker Ishak Muhamad and Pahang Felda Affairs Committee chairperson Abu Bakar Harun.

In his speech, Najib criticised the groups who described the various assistance contributed by the government all this while to assist the people as giving fodder to the livestock.

“We help the rakyat to build schools, houses, construct roads not to give fodder. Fodder is for livestock, if we give assistance it means we are concerned about the needs of the people. This is the BN (Barisan Nasional) government,” he said.

He shared the happiness on the significant BN victory in the Parliamentary by-elections for Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar recently while reminding the BN elected representatives not to be carried away with the success.

“Don’t gloat over the victory. We must always be humble, don’t be egoistic because the villagers will be disgusted if we are too egoistic.”

- Bernama