GOVT TO TRAIN CHILDREN OF FELDA SETTLERS

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said
the government will not neglect the development of the second generation of
Felda (Federal Land Development Authority) settlers and will continue to
formulate programmes for their benefits.

The deputy prime minister said the government would ensure that the children
of Felda settlers would not be left out in the country's development process.

He said that at the moment the government was providing them with training
in the field of management so that they could help manage Felda plantations
overseas.

"To me, the mission is not accomplished if the children are not given
opportunities to pursue education. Otherwise, they will end up becoming a burden
to their families.

"We are also training them to become aviation engineers. When Malaysia
Airlines acquires the largest passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380, it will be
maintained and repaired by children of Felda settlers," he said when opening the
Hotel Felda Residence Kuala Terengganu in this east coast city.

The 100-room hotel costing RM27 million, started its operation on July 4
last year and is managed by Felda Plantation Resorts Sdn Bhd, a Felda
subsidiary.

Najib said that Felda had gone through various transformations since its
inception 50 years ago.

"Felda has been proven to be able to bring changes not only to the settlers
but also to the country.

"This is the government's deeds and we will continue with the transformation
process, this time, for the benefit of the settlers' children," he said.

Meanwhile, Felda chairman Mohd Yusof Noor said, Felda had not strayed from
its original policy of venturing into the oil palm sector although it was now
going into other fields, including hotel.
-- BERNAMA