(Bernama) – The issue of 360,000 hectares of Felda land that has been sensationalized by opposition to be distributed to the second generation of the Felda settlers if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) were to rule, will only result in the agency losing the income.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the land, which was managed by Felda Plantation was the main source of revenue for Felda.

“The income from the land has enabled Felda to spend about RM1.5 billion a year to pay the staff salaries, management, hari raya aid, housing loans, tuition, incentives, entrepreneur loans and so on to the settlers in Felda land schemes.

“The farm, if it is to be distributed to all generations of Felda settlers, is not sufficient or even the land will be sold and the settlers facing prolonged problem,” he told reporters in Mempaga, here yesterday.

Ahmad Maslan said the farm had provided many benefits to Felda settlers and if the agency were to lose its source of income, there would be no benefits obtained by the settlers.

“In fact, to manage or pay wages to its employees may also pose problems.

“The 360,000 hectares of land were from the state governments to Felda and it is purely owned by Felda while the settlers’ land cannot be tampered with including to sell or lease it,” he said.