The price at which Federal Land Development Agency (Felda) purchases oil palm fruits from settlers is not as bad as claimed, BN MP said.

Kota Tinggi parliamentarian Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid ( right ) said that in addition, Felda settlers get all sorts of incentives and perks from the agency.

“As I understand it, the price at which Felda buys the oil palm is not that bad. The settlers have their own land now, and Felda is bound by an agreement.

“Felda doesn't only buy the fruits, but also gives bonuses and incentives,” said the MP who is the former communications director in charge of Felda at the Prime Minister's Department.

He was commenting on the demonstration by 300 settlers at Parliament yesterday to demand licence from Malaysian Palm Oil Bhd to enable them to sell oil palm fruits to other factories.

They say that this is because Felda buys the fruits at a lower price compared to other palm oil mills.

Pakatan Rakyat MPs' motion to debate the settlers' petition was rejected by the Speaker.

'I don't mind being oppressed'

Meanwhile, asked why he did not meet with the settlers to hear their grouses, Noor Ehsanuddin said that this is just a “small matter and should not be viewed as important”.

“It's not that I was afraid to meet them. The problem is, the settlers who came today are opposition supporters. If the government wanted to gather settlers, we can even gather 100,000 of them.

“This is just a small thing,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

He also slammed the opposition for trying to exploit the settlers and urged the settlers to not be swayed by the opposition.

“The settlers are solid government supporters. They know how to differentiate between diamond and glass. This is a transformation that took 57 years.

“If this is what the opposition calls oppressed, if getting 10 acres of land, a plot for a home, bonuses, incentives, and now shares is oppressed, then I, too, want to be oppressed,” he said.