Azmin denies report on Felda-Felcra merger plan

Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali has denied a purported plan by the government to pursue a merger between the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority Bhd (Felcra).

"There is no such plan because all efforts to save Felda, particularly with regard to financial management and plantation management, will be based on the white paper that would be tabled," said Azmin when met by reporters at Parliament lobby after his winding-up speech of the Supply Bill 2019.

He said this when asked to respond to a report by business weekly The Edge that quoted sources who said the merger plan was one out of three proposals mooted to revive Felda's finances.

"We will get detailed information and after it has been tabled in Parliament, we will take the necessary actions.

"There is no merger plan (between Felda) and Felcra," said Azmin.

The Edge had on Saturday uploaded an excerpt of the article - with details of the purported merger and two other proposals - to be published in its latest edition this week.

In his winding-up speech at the 13th PKR Congress yesterday, Azmin, who defended his deputy president's post, confirmed that the white paper on Felda would be tabled on Dec 10.

He said there were PKR members who had touched on issues that affected Felda settlers in their debates at the congress and reassured it was the government’s top priority in order to safeguard their well-being.

On Aug 9, Azmin said in Parliament that the white paper will address political interference that had allegedly led to Felda’s weak financial status. 

At the time, he indicated that besides restructuring debts, Felda will improve its financial status by selling less strategic assets overseas as well as in Malaysia. - Mkini