Felda settler: We were cheated by Umno leaders
The Felda Sungai Buaya settlers were promised RM1.2 million each when they sold their land to the developer after being persuaded by the then BN-led Selangor government.
By Muda Mohd Noor, Free Malaysia Today
HULU SELANGOR: A Felda Sungai Buaya settler has urged the Selangor government to probe allegations that a Felda-linked developer had failed to pay premiums on 1,335 hectares of land to the state.
The company, Murnia Jaya Development Berhad which owed Felda settlers RM360 million, was believed to be linked to Selangor Umno and former Menteri Besar Muhammad Muhd Taib.
In calling for the investigation into Murnia Jaya, settler Aminah Alwi likened the issue to that of the Yayasan Pembasmian Kemiskinan (YBK) which the Selangor government had acted on for failing to pay land premiums.
“If the government can be firm with YBK because they did not pay their premiums since 2001, then why can’t they take the same approach against Murnia Jaya?.
“I was told by some settlers that the developer had failed to pay premiums to the state government on 1,335.46 hectares.
“Someone in the state government told us that the land has been mortgaged to the bank because the developer failed to make payments on their loans,” she said.
A disgruntled Aminah is among 363 settlers who are awaiting settlement on a land purchase agreement signed in 1994 between Murnia Jaya Development Sdn Bhd and the settlers.
The Felda Sungai Buaya settlers were promised RM1.2 million each when they sold their land to the developer after being persuaded by the then BN-led Selangor government.
(Former MB Muhammad Muhd Taib had aspired to develop the northern division and the interior of Selangor. He used this plan to persuade the settlers to sell their land to the developer.)
In the 16-year wait for their money, many of the settlers had died. Only 57 of them are left.
