Zahari says the state secretariat will be a platform to coordinate action.
TO help address long-standing issues affecting over 200,000 Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) settlers and residents in Johor, the state has set up its Felda Muafakat secretariat.
State agriculture, agro-based industry and rural committee chairman Datuk Zahari Sarip said Felda land in Johor was divided into two regional administrations.
“They are the Johor Baru and Segamat Felda regions with 73 Felda schemes across the state, covering 122,124ha involving settlements and plantations.
“In Johor, we have a total of 27,642 settlers and more than 180,000 Felda residents,” he said in his reply during the state assembly meeting held at Bangunan Sultan Ismail in Kota Iskandar.
He was replying to Anuar Abd Manap (BN-Pemanis) who had asked about the secretariat’s role in addressing issues within Felda schemes in Johor.
Zahari said, in addition to management branch offices in each settlement or plantation, there were four main non-governmental organisations (NGOs) associated with Felda.
They were the scheme’s Development and Security Committee (JKKR), Gerakan Persatuan Wanita, Felda Malaysia Youth Council and Kami Anak Felda.
“These organisations serve as the backbone of the schemes, playing key roles in managing the welfare of the Felda community across the country.
“To further strengthen the relationship and strategic cooperation between the state government and Felda, a special secretariat has now been set up as an official platform to discuss matters related to Felda affairs,” he said.
Zahari added that the proposal for the Johor secretariat was drawn up in response after the Felda leadership retreat programme held in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 17, 2024.
During the programme, it had been recommended that each state set up a secretariat in line with the roles and functions of the national Felda Muafakat secretariat.
“This initiative has also stemmed from a series of Felda affairs coordination meetings in Johor involving elected representatives, Felda management and related government departments and agencies.
“Engagement sessions and site visits at several Johor Felda schemes have led to the formation of the state secretariat,” said Zahari.
These efforts, he said, had also enabled Felda to get direct feedback from relevant parties in order to resolve outstanding issues faced in the schemes.
“Therefore, the setting up of the state secretariat is a proactive step by the Johor government to continue listening directly to the problems, proposals, development direction, and hopes of Felda settlers across the state,” he added.
Zahari said the Johor Felda Muafakat secretariat would function as a strategic discussion platform.
“It will also play a role in action coordination, multi-stakeholder engagement and development agenda implementation.
“This secretariat was officially launched by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi this year at Menara Felda in Kuala Lumpur, with the participation of local leaders from Johor and Felda settlers living outside the state.
“In terms of organisational structure, the secretariat is overseen by Onn Hafiz and chaired by me in my role as Johor executive council chairman for rural development.
“The secretariat’s administrative office is handled by Felda Johor Baru and Segamat regional offices.
“Apart from Felda management, members of the secretariat also include government departments and agencies such as the Johor Land and Mines Office, Felda-related NGO leaders, local community leaders, and other parties who can help ensure the effectiveness of the state secretariat’s objectives and roles,” he added.
Key issues to be addressed by the Johor secretariat would include settler land ownership rights, infrastructure development and socio-economic matters, Zahari said.
“For second generation Felda settlers, the state secretariat will tackle issues of residential lot ownership and the New Felda Generation Housing project.
“It is hoped that with the existence of the Johor secretariat, all existing challenges can be addressed collectively and the development of Felda in Johor can be continuously strengthened,” he added.
