Anak, a PAS-linked NGO aggressively fighting for the rights of Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers, has stated its resolve to hound an answer out of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan and the agency.

Their crusade is for answers relating to the over RM6 billion loan which the land development authority took from the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).

NONE “They must explain the loan which may burden the 1.6 million Felda settlers in the future,” insisted its chairperson, Mazlan Aliman ( right in photo, with Salahuddin Ayub ).

Mazlan, who is also a PAS central working committee member, argued that the huge sum must be explained as the RM6 billion loan may pull Felda into future troubles and drag the settlers with it.

He distributed copies of a police report he lodged at the Seremban district police headquarters yesterday, adding that 12 other reports were also lodged by other Anak activists.

Mazlan related that this is just the tip of the iceberg, as more reports will be lodged against Felda by Anak activists in 61 branches nationwide, to compel it to explain the matter, failing which they will up the ante and continue their pursuit more aggressively.

“We will give them one month after the police reports, to answer. If not, we shall lodge a complaint with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

azlan “If the commission fails to investigate and release the report to us as complainants, at least, we shall then obtain an audience with the King for him to take action. After all Felda is a body that concerns the Malays,” vowed Mazlan.

The RM6 billion loan from EPF to Felda has raised the eyebrows of Anak and the opposition, who have demanded an explanation from the government on how and where such funds are being used and why Felda, which is touted to be self-sufficient and cash rich, needs a loan and whether it is to cover losses in the federal authority which have been kept hidden.

Felda chairman Isa Samad, however, has rubbished such concerns, saying that it is standard practice for a business entity to use outside funds to finance new business ventures. Isa also claimed that the fact that the EPF agreed to the loan is proof positive of the federal body’s business acumen.

‘Felda should not follow Sime Darby’

Also at the same press conference, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub hit out at Felda’s recent spate of business diversification.

“Why should Felda expand into new businesses that are outside of its core area? Does it want to follow Sime Darby’s footsteps?” queried the Kubang Krian MP.

Salahuddin related how Sime Darby, a plantation-based corporation, had expanded into new business areas it had no expertise in like oil and gas prospecting. The company, he said, had recorded a loss of RM2 billion because of it s inability to survive in areas outside of its core expertise.

“Felda’s business is commodities, and it should stick to this,” argued Salahuddin.

The PAS leader said he saw no point why Felda should be venturing into the IT sector, pointing out that the federal agency had set up a new business unit made up of several of its subsidiaries to venture into the sector, with the appointment of a German national as its CEO which was witnessed by Premier Najib Abdul Razak recently.

The press conference also saw Anak officially seal its alliance with Kerabat, an NGO fighting for the welfare of ex-soldiers. The two have formed an alliance to compel Felda to give land to ex-soldiers and the descendents of settlers in their new Felda Plantations venture.

Kerabat, via its representative at today’s press conference, retired major Nazari Mokhtar, said that they will hold a rally in Selangor in October in solidarity with Anak.

Nazari said that despite being promised land after ending their service in the armed forces as stated in the Army Council Orders 1973, most ex-soldiers still haven’t seen neither hide nor hair of the promise.

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