DEPUTY Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the government will announce several new approaches that will benefit the people of the Federal Land Development Board (Felda) next week.The Rural and Regional Development Minister said that he was determined to implement immediate changes to Felda, especially in terms of the net income of settlers, so that they could get out of extreme poverty.“There are several approaches that I will announce from time to time… the latest, next week,” he stated in a special interview with the national news agency Bernama in conjunction with the recent Bumiputera Economic Congress 2024.Commenting on Felda’s deteriorating performance as reported in the Auditor General’s Report (LKAN) 2022, Zahid pointed out the responsibility to restore the federal agency will be seen in the aspect of settlers and companies under Felda.“The responsibility to restore Felda is not seen in terms of Felda’s own production (but) the focus should be on the settlers.“Both, we have to look at companies under Felda such as FGV Holdings (FGV Holdings Bhd) and MSM Malaysia Holdings Bhd,” he noted on the recent LKAN report that Felda experienced a very poor financial position in 2022 based on an audit report.The 2022 Federal Agency Financial Statement presented in the Dewan Rakyat previously showed that Felda suffered a loss after tax of RM1.005 bil. – March 17, 2024
