Govt never banned programmes in Felda areas, says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today said the government had never barred the holding of programmes in Felda settlements, including those organised by state governments, provided that they do not involve the use of federal government machinery for election campaigning.

He said state governments were free to organise events in Felda areas, but that election laws prohibit the use of government machinery, including Felda resources, for campaign purposes.

“There is absolutely nothing preventing a menteri besar from entering a Felda settlement and organising his own programme.

“If a state government wants to issue land titles, that is its prerogative, although it must still comply with election regulations. The restriction is not on the programme itself, but on using Felda machinery for campaigning,” he said during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.

Responding to Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut), Anwar also denied issuing any directive to cancel the Felda Settlers’ Day programme, which was scheduled to take place in Kluang, Johor, on June 20 and 21.

He said the Madani government remained committed to improving the welfare of Felda communities through a range of initiatives aimed at revitalising settlements that had, in his view, suffered from poor management.

The measures include the establishment of dialysis centres in Felda settlements and the expansion of development facilities through federal government agencies, he said.

“In the past, many Felda settlements did not receive the attention they deserved and were left behind in rural development projects. That is why deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and I decided to provide far better facilities than before,” he said.