Compiled by C. ARUNO, ARFA YUNUS and R. ARAVINTHAN
FELDA settlers have claimed that they are still paying off their debts to the agency, Utusan Malaysia reported.
This is despite the announcement made by then prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in 2021 that the government had agreed to settle part of the settlers’ RM8.3bil debts.
The daily said some settlers they had spoken to claimed that they were unclear on whether the debt settlement promised by Muhyiddin was happening.
At present, they said there is no detailed statement of the settlers’ debts and on the deducted amount made after the monthly adjustment.
“When the settlers signed the loan adjustment, most of us were unaware of the monthly income statement due to various factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise of palm commodity prices,” said Felda Triang 1 chief settler Mat Jidi Yaakob, 62.
“Settlers are now confused after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that steps to clear settlers’ debts had not been made by the previous government and this continued after he became the Prime Minister.”
To clear the air, Mat Jidi suggested that Felda issue detailed and conclusive statements to all the settlers individually.
Felda Kenanga Jengka 7 chief settler Ahmad Zubir Abdul Rahim, 65, claimed that the settlers’ debts had remained the same despite a previous promise that 80% of their debts would be cleared.
“The settlers here did not get a copy of the agreement letter because Felda said they have to bring them to the headquarters to be checked and stamped,” he said.
> Actress Nurul Shakilla Mohd Khoriri has dispelled talk of her having an affair with a married businessman, Kosmo! reported.
The 34-year-old single mother said a viral photo, which shows her next to the man, was taken last year.
Nurul Shakilla said for now, she would prefer to focus on important aspects of her life such as her child.
“This has been the most important week for my child and me. I don’t think I’d have enough time to address old stories,” she said.
“If I feel like it, I will explain everything next week to clear my name. I haven’t done so until now because I did not want to embarrass anyone by telling the truth.”
The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.
