KUANTAN: Felda Bukit Goh settlers here hope the RM810 million allocation set aside for Felda schemes under 2020 Budget will be put to good use.
Felda Bukit Goh Village Community Management Council chief Jefri Salim said the amount was quite sizeable and should be meted out according to priority at the respective Felda settlements in the country.
Citing an example, he said it was high time that the roads in Felda Bukit Goh, which were badly damaged during the heydays of the bauxite mining activities in the settlement, were repaired.
“The government had announced a RM90 million allocation to upgrade roads and basic infrastructures at Felda schemes, so we hope that the roads in Felda Bukit Goh will be repaired and resurfaced. We have little issues concerning water supply and second generation homes, so the money could be used elsewhere (other areas).
"The RM300 million announcement to abolish interest on loans taken by Felda settlers is also timely as it would allow settlers to start fresh and become debt-free. They will no longer shoulder the burden, and can start to make other plans including ways to improve their income," he said.
Jefri hoped that a special mechanism will be introduced so that the funds will reach the needy Felda schemes based on their requirements and necessary work could begin soon.
In the 2020 Budget, the government announced a RM100 million allocation to improve water supply in Felda settlements, RM70 million for new generation housing, RM250 million to increase the income of 11,600 settlers, RM300 million to abolish the interest from loans taken by Felda settlers and RM90 million to upgrade the roads and basic infrastructure in the settlements.
Meanwhile, second generation Felda settler Shahrinahar Latib from Jengka hopes that more affordable homes will be built for the new generation of Felda settlers.
The 33-year-old said that in the past, some Felda schemes in the country had second generation homes but the units could not be sold as the potential buyers failed to secure housing loans.
“Building new homes for a new generation of Felda settlers is certainly a much awaited news but what is important is the ability of the young settlers to buy and own the units. The details have to be further fine tuned so that new generation settlers will benefit," he said.
First generation Felda settler Ayub Mohd Din, 77, said a special body should monitor the funds, identity the schemes that require specific assistance (roads, water and second generation housing) and disburse the funds accordingly.
"This will ensure that settlers nationwide will be aware of the respective scheme which benefits from the budget announcement and not become clueless over the money," he said.