Hate me, but don't punish Felda, rural folks - Najib tells gov't

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has urged the Pakatan Harapan government to do more to help Malaysians living in rural areas or Felda settlements.

"The government can be vengeful towards me, and pile on scores of charges on me and my family.

"But don't neglect the fortunes of 650,000 families of oil palm smallholders and workers, as well as the millions of rural residents throughout the country," he said in a Facebook posting.

Najib said this while lamenting the sharp drop in oil palm prices, as well as unfulfilled promises by the Harapan administration.

Statistics shared by Najib from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) showed that as of Nov 9, full fruit bunches of oil palm were priced at between RM349 and RM400 per tonne, depending on grade and region.

This is a sharp drop from prices at Nov 9 last year, when prices ranged from RM566 to RM637 per tonne.

"I sympathise greatly with what smallholders and Felda settlers have to face.

"When I meet them in several states, all I hear is their frustrations and disappointments. Their lives have been greatly burdened of late," Najib said.

The former premier added that the prices of fertiliser and daily goods have increased, as have the salaries of foreign workers who work in the plantations.

This is while payments from Felda continue to be late, while subsidies are cut or abolished, he said.

Najib added that Harapan has also yet to deliver on its pledge to abolish unnecessary debts by Felda settlers.

"The situation in rural areas is becoming more dire," he said. - Mkini