The Felda NGOs Consultative Council has urged the government to encourage settlers to be independent, while simultaneously asking for Hari Raya aid to be continued until settlers achieve self-sufficiency.
Its chief Mazlan Aliman said the federal government's plan for a new Felda model, which is still in the pipeline, should instill the spirit of "berdikari" (independence) among settlers.
This, he added, was the aim of the programme when Felda was launched during the time of the second prime minister, Abdul Razak Hussein.
"We would like to propose to the government and Felda to review the objective of Felda’s establishment. It was aimed at restructuring society and eradicate poverty.
"The new model should take in the concept of 'berdikari'," Mazlan told reporters during a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.
He was commenting on the new business model proposed by Putrajaya during the tabling of Felda's white paper in Parliament last month.
Mazlan said they hope that the concept would help make Felda settlers more successful in the future and no longer be dependent on the government's aid.
There was no excuse for Felda settlers not being able to stand on their own feet when other smallholders who do not depend on government aid could be successful, he stated.
Mazlan also highlighted the council’s suggestion for the government to focus on co-operatives for Felda settlers in the new model.
Meanwhile, at the press conference, the council chief also said that the government's aid for settlers should continue until the settlers are able to be self-sufficient.
He said this when relaying the council's plea for the Pakatan Harapan government to continue with their Hari Raya monetary assistance to Felda settlers.
Mazlan stated that high living costs and low income stemming from unstable commodity prices made such assistance necessary.
"It is something that is very needed at this point of time," he said. - Mkini
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