A group of 50 Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers and activists staged a protest today, demanding that the plantation operator reinstates its director-general Zulkifli Wahab.

NONE Association of Felda Settlers' Children (Anak) chairperson Mazlan Aliman led the group to the Felda headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, opposing the 'leave of absence' granted to Zulkifli (right) , saying that the move was unwarranted.

Mazlan claimed that Zulkifli was removed because he was not in agreement with Isa over the the listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH) Sdn Bhd on Bursa Malaysia.

Speaking to reporters after handing over the memorandum to a Felda senior officer, he said Zulkifli opposed the move because it would “dig the graves of Felda settlers”.

He explained that the listing would slash settler’s income by 80 percent from last year’s projections.

In addition, the move would give certain perks to FGHV, including lease on 360,000 hectares of Felda land, and exclusive rights on crops, revenue, and government incentives.

NONE “It means that (FGHV) would become so powerful that it would overwhelm settler’s rights,” Mazlan ( left ) added.

Breach of anti-graft law

He claimed that the decision to appoint Isa as chairperson of the Felda Funding Corporation (KPF) was made in a board meeting on August 25, where Zulkifli was absent.

Mazlan alleged Isa himself had reportedly said the meeting was arranged “in a hurry”, and the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar did not leave the meeting room when the appointment was discussed.

This is a violation under Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency Act, Mazlan charged.

PAS organ Harakah had earlier reported that Zulkifli was ordered to take a nine-month leave of absence after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak decided to give him a chance to further his studies.

The report speculates that the order was issued after Najib received a letter from Felda chairperson Isa Samad. It adds that the ‘study leave’ took effect on Nov 25 and stretches to August next year.

Besides calling for Zulkifli’s reinstatement and Isa’s removal, Anak held up placards reading Allah selamatkan Felda dan warganya daripada golongan pengkhianat (Allah save Felda and its people from betrayal).