Once bitten, twice shy - Ismail warns Felda settlers against voting Harapan

 

GE15 | Felda settlers have been warned against voting for Pakatan Harapan this general election as the coalition has not done anything to care for the settlers’ wellbeing during its short stint as government, claimed Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Instead, the caretaker prime minister reminded them to pick BN as it was proven that the coalition had always taken care of their welfare, adding that the settlers are special.

“You have been bitten by the snake once, don’t get bitten by it again. You already know that there’s a snake in the hole, why would you want to step into it again?

“You know you have been cheated once, why do you want to be cheated twice?

“All this time, the one who has been looking after the interest of Felda settlers is the BN-led government. Then after 22 months when Harapan, which has no experience, ruled, what did you get from them?” he said in his speech at a meet-and-greet with Felda Lasah settlers at Semai Bakti multipurpose hall in Sungai Siput, Perak today.

Ismail Sabri reminded the settlers that Felda has been the “golden child” of the BN government since it was established by the second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein

Therefore, Ismail Sabri, who is running for the Bera parliamentary seat, said he is convinced that the people would choose BN as the coalition will continue to bring ease to the second and third generations of Felda settlers.

“Felda has been the vote bank of BN and I hope you will stay loyal to us. 

“We should not find ‘azab’ (punishment) in life, we must seek a happy life that can only be derived from BN. Do you want ‘azab’ or a happy life? Of course, we need to choose a happy life,” he said.

‘BN lost GE14 so rakyat can compare’

The Umno vice-president said there’s a reason for BN’s defeat in the 2018 general election as the Muslims believe that there is a reason behind everything that happens. 

He said it allowed the people to make comparisons between BN and other administrations which had governed since.

“When we lost (in the previous election), we were sad. But, as Muslims, we always say there is a reason behind everything, where we can make comparisons.

“There is no other party ruling the government since independence until the 14th general election, except us. So we can’t make a comparison then.

“But now, we can... Now, we realise who can help us, who can look after us, and who can't fulfil their promises,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Ismail Sabri also assured 70 oil palm growers in Felda Lasah that the RM1.8 million debt they owed would be absolved.

“I understand that some 70 settlers here had incurred damages on their plantations from elephant attacks and in turn, they owed Felda.

“I would like to inform you, not announce as I cannot make any announcements, that the debts of these 70 settlers to Felda have been absolved.” - Mkini