Felda settlers are smiling again, says PM

 

Ismail Sabri Yaakob (centre) at the Felda Plantation Transformation ceremony at Felda Endau in Mersing, Johor, today. (Bernama pic)

MERSING: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said Felda settlers are now enjoying much better incomes after crude palm oil (CPO) prices surged to record highs recently.

He said the CPO price hit a record RM8,076.50 per tonne on March 2, and this had greatly benefited Felda settlers and the country.

“I can see Felda settlers smiling again over higher incomes following the jump in palm oil prices in the market,” he said, citing the example of a woman from Felda Endau, who reportedly earns almost RM8,000 a month now.

Speaking at the Felda Plantation Transformation ceremony at Felda Endau here today, Ismail said a settler at Felda Lok Heng in Kota Tinggi whom he visited earlier told him that his monthly income had reached RM12,000.

“Congratulations to Felda,” he said, adding that last year, the oil palm industry contributed RM107 billion to the country’s exports, with 5.6 million tonnes of fresh fruit bunches processed from plantations owned by Felda settlers.

“Felda issues have been purposely used as campaign material in Kota Tinggi as 80% of the voters are Felda settlers and Johor is the second-largest Felda site after Pahang.

“Felda settlers are Malay voters and they are usually loyal to Barisan Nasional. That’s why Felda is like a fixed deposit for Umno and certain parties are trying to manipulate the issues, which I think is not right,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail said the details on the reopening of borders would be announced by health minister Khairy Jamaluddin in order to ensure that it would run smoothly without any hiccups.

So far, he said, there had been no issues on the reopening of air and sea borders as it did not involve any requirement for quarantine.

“However, a screening test at the airport would be required upon arrival. This may be quite difficult to do at land borders, especially in Johor as many people travel between the state and Singapore on a daily basis,” he added.

Ismail said the congestion at the crossings between Johor and Singapore would be terrible as there are many daily commuters in addition to the tourists.

“We also cannot enforce testing to be done three days before travelling when it comes to these daily commuters.

“That is why we are reopening borders on April 1, so that these issues can be resolved first. KJ (Khairy) will announce the details later,” he added.

Yesterday, the prime minister announced that Malaysia would begin its transition to the Covid-19 endemic phase and reopen its borders from April 1. - FMT