Najib: Felda settlers saw ‘golden age’ under BN

CAMERON POLLS | Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has described his administration as the “golden age” for Felda settlers.

Campaigning for BN for the upcoming Cameron Highlands by-election at the Sungai Koyan Felda settlement there today, he reminisced about the time BN was in power.

“Why was it that during BN’s rule you could earn RM2,000 to RM3,000 a month? Why was it that during BN’s rule you could get an interest-free loan to extend your house?

“Why was it that during BN’s rule you could get high bonuses, duit raya, BR1M and school assistance?” he asked the 300 settlers present, many dressed in BN colours.

“That is why the golden age for Felda settlers was during BN’s time in power,” he deduced.

Najib further positioned himself as a defender of Felda settlers, describing how he would always have their best interests at the forefront of his mind.

“During my time (as PM), I had discussions with the president and prime minister of China and they agreed to increase their purchase of palm oil from Malaysia.

“Do you know why? When I was speaking with the Chinese president, I imagined your faces in my head. I wanted to see that Felda people earned good wages and performed well economically,” he said.

RM1 billion challenge

After his government lost in the 14th general election last May, however, Najib recounted how several Felda settlers have approached him to complain about their low earnings.

Some, he said, now earned as low as only RM74 a month adding he blamed the Pakatan Harapan government for the low commodity prices and for failing the community.

The former finance minister also challenged the current one, Lim Guan Eng, to allocate RM1 billion to assist the settlers.

“Lim said he wants to give Felda RM77 million. If I was the PM, I would give Felda RM1 billion. “We need to help the Felda people,” he said.

Late last month, Lim announced that that the allocation was to address the settlers' immediate cash flow problems. 

Polling day for the Cameron Highlands by-election is set for Jan 26. It is a four-cornered contest between BN's Ramli Mohd Nor, DAP's M Manogaran and two independent candidates, farmer Wong Seng Yee and retired teacher Sallehudin Ab Talib. - Mkini