Battle for Felda vote intensifies

JOHOR BARU: With only a few days left before the polls on Saturday, political parties are racing to win over more than 150,000 voters in 73 Felda settlements statewide.

Once regarded as “fixed deposits” for Barisan Nasional, Felda voters began slowly moving away from the coalition before the 14th General Election in 2018, with some seats slipping to Pakatan Harapan in the 15th General Election in 2022.

The Felda voting bloc in Johor is quite a sizeable one, as it involves swing votes in at least 25 to 30 of the 56 seats in the state.

The state’s Felda voters now seem to be torn between Barisan and Perikatan Nasional, as they feel leaders from both sides have provided assistance.

The older generation wants to continue to support Barisan, which started the settlements, while the younger generation leans toward Perikatan, believing the coalition did much for them when in power.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

• Jangan Terpedaya Janji Manis, Beri Mandat Kepada BN Demi Kestabilan Johor – Rais
• Mohd Jafni Perbetul Fakta PMX, Tegaskan Johor Giat Laksana Agenda Rumah Mampu Milik
• Pilih BN Demi Kestabilan Dan Masa Depan Johor – Norlizah

Jangan Gugat Kestabilan Negara Demi Politik Sempit – Tok Mat

During The Star’s visit to some Felda settlements, there were grouses that these days the payments they receive from Felda are decreasing as there is a shortage of workers to harvest oil palm fruits.

The high diesel price also translates to higher costs for transporting fruits from the estate to the palm oil factories.

Some also raised concerns about the rising cost of living, lack of job opportunities, need for better infrastructure and homes for the second generation.

They claim issues such as homes for the second generation – which have been delayed for more than a decade – have forced many of them to continue living with their parents or seek accommodation elsewhere.

Workshop owner Mohd Sharel Faiman, 45, from Felda Sri Jaya in Tangkak, said the proposed housing project for second-generation settlers had initially progressed under a collaboration with Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad, with the first phase completed successfully.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

Pembangunan Perumahan Rakyat Negeri Johor Sangat Seimbang – Ahmad Zahid

However, he said subsequent phases were left in limbo following changes in the administration and issues involving the proposed project site.

“We hope the government can finally resolve this issue because many second-generation settlers are still waiting for their homes,” said Mohd Sharel, who has two children and opened his workshop in the settlement three years ago after relocating from Johor Baru.

Trader Mariana Mohd Dom, 41, echoed similar sentiments, saying residents have been waiting for around 15 years for the second-generation housing project to materialise.

“I have three children, and all of us are staying at my mother’s house. We just hope the issue can be settled as soon as possible so families like ours can finally have a place of our own,” she added.

P. Perumal, 80, a first-generation Felda settler in Felda Linggiu in Sedili, said both Barisan and Perikatan had helped the settlers.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

• Manifesto BN Bukan Sekadar Janji, Dirangka Berteraskan Keupayaan – Hasni
• Noraini Seru Pengundi Kekalkan BN, Pertahan Sri Medan Dan Semerah
• Manifesto Berteraskan Rekod, Bukan Retorik Untuk Rakyat – Johari

‘Bersama Kita Bina Tenang’, Tok Ai Santuni Setiap Lapisan Masyarakat

“Under Pakatan rule, we suffered. In fact, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad started forcing settlers to pay up loans when he was prime minister in 2018.

“Due to the low price of palm oil at the time, I was only taking home RM300 to RM500 a month, and my debt to Felda increased to RM130,000.

“Muhyiddin at least helped waive RM100,000 in debt for each settler,” he said, adding that despite strong palm oil prices today, settlers are only taking home about RM2,000 from Felda.

“Maybe many of these workers are leaving for other landowners who pay higher wages or commissions to manage plantations and harvest fruits,” he said, noting that he himself only received about RM1,900 from Felda last month.

“We hope that Felda will also start paying bonuses during Hari Raya or provide other financial assistance to the settlers,” he said, adding that Felda Linggiu is unique, as there are also more than 80 Chinese and more than 20 Indians in the settlement.

Asked about some settlers earning RM5,000 to RM7,000 each month, he said that these were settlers who managed their estate on their own.

“I am old and sickly these days. How am I going to manage and run my estate at this age?”

At 75 years old, settler Tan Chee Seng from the same settlement manages his own 4ha estate, but his earnings have dropped because of higher transportation costs due to the increase in diesel prices.

“These days, I have to pay an additional RM40 for each trip because of the high diesel price,” he said, adding that many of the lorry drivers did not qualify for the subsidised diesel as they were either foreigners or driving lorries with expired road tax.

“The price of fertilisers has also increased a lot, and all this is added cost for me,” he said, adding that despite all this, he was still able to earn about RM7,000.

Meanwhile, for 32-year-old self-employed resident Mohd Izuan Ali, the recurring water disruptions in Felda Air Tawar 4, Kota Tinggi, are a long-standing issue that locals hope will finally be resolved.

He said interruptions to their water supply are especially common during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season, when families welcome relatives and friends from out of town.

It is an unnecessary inconvenience at a time when households are busiest, said Mohd Izuan.

Trader Salmah Majid, 36, said poor mobile phone and Internet connectivity remains another major challenge for residents in the settlement.

According to her, mobile data coverage is weak in many parts of Felda Air Tawar 4, making it difficult for residents to stay connected.

She added that even households with WiFi subscriptions often experience slow Internet speeds, affecting daily activities that rely on stable connectivity, including communication, online learning, and business transactions.

Salmah expressed hope that the relevant authorities and telecommunications providers will upgrade the area’s network infrastructure.

Battle for Felda vote intensifies

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

• Dr Asyraf Bidas PH… Politik Idea Dan Fakta, Bukan Fitnah Dan Auta
• Mohamad Hasan Rayu Pengundi Awal Kekalkan Sokongan Kepada BN Demi Kestabilan Johor
• Akta GSA Perlu Diubah, Isu Perumahan FELDA Perlu Diselesaikan – Ahmad Maslan

LAWATI LAMAN FACEBOOK KAMI :

Layari Laman Facebook MYKMU.NET

Onn Hafiz Bidas Naratif Dan Hasutan PH, PRN Johor Tiada Kaitan Bebaskan Najib