Settlers accuse Felda of fraud and discrimination
By Muda Mohd Nor, Free Malaysia Today
Disgruntled settlers in and around Hulu Selangor have lodged a formal complaint with the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) against the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) for fraud, human rights abuse and widespread discrimination.
National Association of Felda Settlers’ Children (Anak) president Mazlan Aliman, who handed Suhakam the memorandum on behalf of the settlers, said many of them were angry with Felda for refusing to release their land titles despite having cleared their debts with the scheme.
“Some settlers have said that Felda authorities have even threatened to evict them from their land schemes.
“There’s just so many issue. There are over 25,000 settlers who have been short-changed by Felda.
“Felda has forgotten its roots and is now turning against its own,” said Mazlan in reference to the original idea of the schemes which was mooted by the late Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein in 1956.
Razak, who is Prime Minister Najib’s father aimed for the schemes to power the economic development of the rakyat under the New Economic Policy, which it did to some extent.
