PM CALLS ON FELDA SETTLERS TO EMBARK ON MAJOR TRANSFORMATION

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak Tuesday called on the over one
million Felda settlers nationwide to embark on a major transformation to achieve
greater wealth and progress.

In this context, the prime minister said Felda (Federal Land Development
Authority) should focus on research and development activities as well as
implementing good economic, marketing and business practices.

"All this should be geared towards achieving a major upswing in the income
of Felda settlers," he said.

Speaking at a gathering with Felda settlers here, Najib said the major
transformation should be achieved within the next 50 years.

"I am urging you to make not just any change or improvement but a major
transformation for a better future. I hope that we can focus our attention on
this process," Najib said.

Najib also launched Felda's tagline "Felda: The Only One in the World" which
symbolises the agency's success as the world's premier land development agency.

He also launched the Felda Rally Team which aims to unearth talents in
motorsport as well as in the management of the sport among Felda settlers.

Najib hoped the transformation process would imbibe new culture among the
Felda society -- a culture that emphasises the virtue of discipline, zero social
problems, unity and harmony and religious teaching.

This would turn Felda settlers into a model society, he added.

He said that Felda, in its 53 years of history, had taken 112,000 families
out of poverty and provided infrastructure for the settlers.

He added that the "1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now" philosophy
could be applied to the effort to transform Felda.

"The '1Malaysia' concept is applicable to Felda as the settlers are united
under the Felda umbrella.

"'People First' is to give priority to the settlers' requirements and
'Performance Now' is where settlers gauge the effectiveness of Felda
programmes," he said.

Najib said the government spent RM187.6 million between 2005 and this year
for the benefit of 28,787 Felda children who were studying at various levels.

Speaking at a news conference later, Najib said Felda would also give
emphasis on providing housing for the second Felda generation, with six housing
projects currently underway.

In the second stimulus package, the government approved RM100 million to
Felda to implement additional housing projects following the increase in the
demand, Najib said.

He said that apart from oil palm plantation, the settlers were also involved
in various other programmes to supplement their income.

This includes entrepreneurship which involves about 35,000 settlers.

The settlers were also encouraged to invest in Felda cooperative shares, he
said.

Meanwhile, Najib said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department
Ahmad Maslan would help him oversee Felda.

Najib pledged to continue giving his best to the agency despite having a
bigger responsibility following his appointment as the prime minister.
-- BERNAMA