Corrupt, greedy leaders the bane of land settlers

By Jamilah Kamaruddin

PETALING JAYA: There is only a slight difference between the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra).
In Felcra settlements, the settlers own the land and not the government. Both entities aimed to alleviate the rural Malay economy.

But today the plight of Felcra settlers is much the same as their brethren in Felda schemes, according to the National Association for Children of Settlers (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman.

Felcra was set up in 1966, 10 years after Felda, with the aim of developing privately owned land in a bid to improve the status of the rural Malay community.

Felcra opened settlements and new plantations for those who did not have land.

In 1997, Felcra became Felcra Bhd, a wholly owned company belonging to the government.

After a while greed stepped in.

According to Mazlan, a majority of the village folk was being oppressed as a result of mismanagement and power abuse in Felcra.

Mazlan, who is also the chairman of PAS’ land and regional development territory bureau, recently disclosed 22 documents, complete with evidence, detailing alleged fraudulent acts involving Felcra.

He said the 22 cases were occurring simultaneously involving 90,000 settlers nationwide.

He alleged that among the fraud cases were swindling funds in the settlers’ cooperative, Koperasi Peserta-Perserta Felcra Bhd, a RM14.8 million contract on the Sarawak Felcra Jemoreng settlement, RM7 million purchase of bonds without the approvals of settlers and forging documents for general agricultural works in Sabah.

“In reality, Felcra participants face more serious issues than Felda settlers. The only thing is that the former did not know who to complain to,” said Mazlan.

Besides the 22 cases, he also alleged that he had ample proof of other cases of monetary abuse and will disclose them soon.

“It’s not just Felda and Felcra. There is mismanagement and abuse in Risda, Mida, UDA and other agencies.

“There could only be one reason for this (state of affair): corrupt government leaders who are only interested in raking in personal profits at the expense of the people,” he said.

Reject corrupt leaders
On the New Economic Model, Mazlan said the 30% equity could be achieved early “if and only if” the government is transparent and runs the land development agencies properly.

“There are several agencies involved in the development of millions of hectares of land worth billions of ringgit.

“If a land development agency established 50 years ago had been managed without corruption, Bumiputeras would have achieved the 30% equity by now,” he said.

“Extreme poverty would have been wiped out and the economic gap between the communities reduced.

“Unfortunately for the settlers... there are greedy and corrupt politicians who have and are still robbing the rakyat’s wealth.

“They have turned government agencies into their personal playground for amassing wealth and aiding their cronies.

“If this situation does not change and the culture of corruption continues, it will never be possible for Bumiputeras to move forward.

“We are a grateful people... we don’t want to forget the assistance the government has offered us… but the corrupt and greedy leaders have oppressed the rakyat to the point that we are now rejecting them,” said Mazlan.