The Dewan Rakyat was today told that 102,560 settlers have settled their loan with the Federal Land Development Auhtority (Felda), totalling RM3,105 million.

However, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan said another 10,075 settlers had yet to settle their loans, amounting to RM92.863 million.

“Out of the total, RM28.58 million is still in the repayment period which ends in 2017, while RM64.28 million is the arrears,” he said in response to a question by Kamarul Baharin Abbas (PKR-Teluk Kemang).

Kamarul Baharin wanted to know the amount of loan still owed by settlers to Felda and their savings in the Replanting Fund.

Ahmad said that as of Oct 1, 2011, the amount of loans for 112,635 settlers was RM3,220 million, which was the development cost Felda provided as advance for forest clearing, farm development, house building and personal loans.

“These loans do not include cost of living assistance and other loans provided by Felda, which amounted to RM2,313.16 million, comprising loans for house expansion, totalling RM665.01 million, Entrepreneur Incentive Scheme (RM87.60 million), study loans (RM7.40 million), computer loans (RM9.66 million) and other loans totalling RM0.63 million,” he added.

He said that until now, Felda had spent RM1,460 million in cost of living assistance to help settlers with their replanting.

On the Replanting Fund, Ahmad said the settlers’ savings in the fund as of Dec 31, 2010, for the first replanting was  RM269 million, while the subscription collected for the second replanting was RM79 million.

He said to help increase the settlers’ incomes and raise their living standard, Felda had also written-off debts totalling RM449.31 million owed by the settlers in various accounts.

- Bernama

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