Finance Ministry's RM77m fund to help Felda settlers

Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said the Cabinet had agreed the tabling of the White Paper, which was scheduled to be tabled to Parliament on Monday, had to be postponed to the first meeting of the second session of the 14th Parliament (2019).

KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry has set up a fund with an allocation of RM77mil to help the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers settle their outstanding payments.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said on Thursday the ministry took a serious view of the cashflow problems of the settlers which had reached a critical level this year.

“Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed concer about their problems and directed the minisry to set up a special fund,” he said.

Of the allocation,  Lim said RM43mil will be used for oustanding payments to Felda Technoplant Sdn Bhd;  RM32.80mil for the replanting and which would benefit 38,000 settlers while RM1.20mil will be paid as death benefits to the heirs of the settlers.