Dear Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak,

It is indeed heartening to note that Felda (the Federal Land Development Authority) which is one of the world's largest association of plantation owner's and managers, covering over 800,000 hectares of rubber and palm oil plantation estates and having more than 115,000 families which some believe consists of more than 98 percent Malay/Muslims, is doing extremely well.

Not only are Felda settlers provided the best of facilities and technology to maintain and increase the productivity of their lands, they are also provided with an admirable support system in terms of facilities, healthcare, housing, education for their children and much more. Looking at it macroscopically, Felda through federal aid, provides a 'cradle to grave' assistance to these settlers in their everyday needs.

In terms of education, facilities like community rehabilitation centres, family literation centres, Permata, Semai Bakti Hostels, Felda Tuition Schemes and Science Learning Centres are all truly remarkable. Children from age one onwards can be enrolled. Tuition for students in Standards 5 and 6 and Forms 3 and 5 numbering close to 59,000 are provided to assist them to get good grades for the government exams like the UPSR,PMR and SPM.

A total of 370 schools ie, 100 secondary schools and 270 primary schools have been provided for the convenience of Felda settlers’ children.

Subsequently, the government provides certificate courses (6 to 24 months), diploma courses (two and a-half years to three yrs) and major courses like Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Lame), Trainees Junior Technician (TJT), cadet pilot etc. Felda scholars also get to enrol in top varsities of the world.

With just a minimum grade of at least 2A's in the SPM examination, they may be able to get scholarships from Felda/PSD/Mara/Petronas to do degree courses in medicine, dentistry, actuarial science, computer science, engineering and accounting.

Felda’s management also has started the Felda Entrepreneurship Incentive Scheme (Siuf) whereby the younger generation of Felda settlers are encouraged to get involved in non-farm activities such as processing or manufacturing poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables so that they can become future leaders and entrepreneurs.

Some of these settlers claim they lead a very comfortable life, earning more than a RM5,000 salary per month which is even more than what junior doctors and lawyers earn in the government.

In terms of housing, hundreds of millions of ringgit has been earmarked under the Felda Family Housing Scheme (PWF) with the aim to provide the new generation of settlers a chance to own affordable and comfortable homes costing around RM35,000 to RM42,000 for a three-room unit and loans are easily available.

In conclusion, the Felda scheme which consists of around 98% Malay/Muslims is a grand success and needs to be applauded.

Datuk Seri Najib, based on your '1Malaysia' concept and your lifelong dream of a prosperous Malaysia with abundant opportunities for all citizens, I would like to turn your attention to the Malaysian Agricultural Producers Association (Mapa) which represents 184 companies having around 461 estates throughout the country with a strength of around 180,000 plantation workers of which at least 50% consists of Indian Malaysian.

To state the conditions of these workers as pitiful with poor wages, their housing wretched, their children's education lacking and health care negligible, would be an understatement.

After 52 years of independence, it is shameful that these workers are paid only a guaranteed minimum wage of RM325. That, too, is debatable as the former Human Resource Minister Dr Fong Chan On, scrambled to intervene and settle the monthly wage issue out of court between Mapa and NUPW fearing that during the dispute an outcome that may be unfavourable to these exploitative plantation industry players could accidentally fruit.

To date, the plantation companies have successfully kept their workers poor enough to be recognised as a poverty group in every five year Malaysia Plan, under the vigilant and 'supportive' eyes of the government. After 52 years of independence, the current Human Resource Minister Dr S. Subramaniam is giving the customary lip service by giving a mere 'proposal' to Mapa to have an 'Estate Workers Housing Aid Fund' and that too only after these poor workers have worked for more than 10 years and contribute financially from their pittance peanut salary of RM325 per month.

Subramaniam has also found wisdom to highlight the need for proper transportation for secondary school-going children in estates as only now the government is aware that these poor children - leaving aside the fact they do not have proper secondary schools within their estates - don't even have proper transportation to take them many miles away to go to a proper secondary school.

This is probably one of the primary reasons that the government has 'contributed' out of indirect neglect to the large amount of Indian Malaysian children school dropouts. So very unlike their Felda counterparts who have 370 schools within or nearby their settlements.

Subramaniam has also highlighted that after 52 years of independence, Sime Darby has now become 'magnaminous' and agreed to provide extra land for their workers to venture into farming or cattle rearing under the Green Book programme. Even though agreed, one may wonder if most plantation industries may take a further 52 years before this is even implemented.

In terms of healthcare, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) some time back stated that they were deeply concerned at the deplorable state of healthcare in plantations where workers live with their families. The MMA had urged a campaign for change so that the plantation population of more than one million people could be integrated into the mainstream of national development and healthcare. Presently they are firmly outside it. I am curious to know if the government has heeded this call.

Many of these plantation workers do not even have birth certficates and identity cards and due to their illiteracy, they can't seek help from the right sources. Not that there are any ready sources for them to turn to anyway. Due to their poor pay, they eventually fall into a vicious cycle of debts and more debts that paves the path towards bonded 'slavery'.

Dear Datuk Seri Najib, even though you have just become the prime minister, you have much experience in your many years of being the menteri besar of Pahang as well as being the deputy prime minister since 2004 during which you were given a broad portfolio of responsibilities including the oversight of Felda and in establishing new land settlement schemes and new income opportunities for those who were landless and in the lower income group.

Therefore it is alarmingly shocking that there has been a gross oversight with regards to these poor Indian Malaysian plantation workers.

With the ‘in front of the tree we can see him, behind the tree you know lah...’ mentality of the then Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik, one can only wonder and feel sorry for the future plight of these poor neglected plantation workers no matter which prime minister or minister takes over, based on the past negligences by them.

Dear Datuk Seri Najib, why the discrepancies between the condition of Felda settlers and the Mapa plantation workers, I must ask ? Aren't we all a '1Malaysia' ? Or is this just a flashy vote- fishing slogan that is hollow in it's true meaning?

Kindly prove your words dear Mr Prime Minister. The clock is ticking and it's past 52 years now and things are only getting worse.