US$522.8 MLN ALLOCATED FOR FELDA SETTLER COMMUNITY'S DEVELOPMENT IN 2011

LABIS (Johor, Malaysia), Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak Tuesday
announced an allocation of RM1.6 billion (US$522.8 million) for the Federal Land
Development Authority (Felda) settler community's development nationwide in
2011.

Speaking at a leader's gathering with settlers at the Chemplak Felda scheme
here, the prime minister also announced a RM8.5 million allocation from Felda
for an infrastructural development programme involving 500 housing lots to be
given to the second generation of Felda setters, whereby each lot would be
allocated RM17,000.

"This is not a fantasy or an unrealtistic promise...(like) of late, freely made
by the opposition.

"This is an extraordinary record of achievements from the efforts undertaken and
the results can be seen today. Success changes the living conditions of this
group of people who were fortunate to be chosen as Felda settlers and under the
aegis of our government, the Barisan Nasional (BN) government," he said.

Najib said the allocation showed Felda as an institution that was strong
financially and administratively, thus proving that the opposition's allegation
that Felda was bankrupt was a dirty tactic to confuse the settlers and general
public.

He said Felda had undergone an aggressive transformation process that had
managed to change the country's socio-economic landscape, especially for the
rural community in a wholesome and effective manner.

The prime minister said with the Felda settlers' household monthly income
reaching more than RM3,000, they no longer formed part of the 40 per cent of
people with low incomes, but were now categorised in the moderate-income group.

"This development is significant in that, when we were drawing up the New
Economic Model, we had defined the low-income group as those earning RM2,300 and
below monthly, based on the country's per capita income.

"But when I learnt that the Felda settlers here and elsewhere in the country
were getting more than RM3,000 monthly, it means they are no longer among the 40
per cent of Malaysians earning low incomes. Today, the Felda settler community
is officially in the country's moderate-income group," he said.

Therefore, Najib, said, it was the duty of all settlers not only to remember the
past and be grateful for the benefits they had enjoyed, but also to ensure that
what they had sowed and nurtured would continue to flourish to bring greater
benefits to the whole Felda community and country.

Najib who arrived in Labis in a helicopter at 9.30am, had earlier visited the
Chemplak Barat Felda scheme and launched the Community Broadband Centre and
futsal court there before having breakfast with the settlers. (US$1=RM3.05)
-- BERNAMA