Felda settlers will have a tough time if opposition wins GE14 - Najib





KUANTAN, March 24 (Bernama) --Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today told Felda settlers that they will face difficulties marketing their oil palm harvests if the opposition were to win the 14th General Election (GE14).

Not only that, he said this would have an adverse impact on the national economy.

Najib said that this would be the scenario because the opposition had stated that they would cancel all joint venture contracts with China if they were to come into power.

"The government's policy is to have good relations with the economic giants of the world like India and China as well as other countries because they buy palm oil produced from oil palm harvested by Felda settlers.

"Just imagine, if they (opposition) cancelled the contracts, bilateral relations will nosedive.. .if this happens there will be no demand for our palm oil, it is not them (opposition) who will suffer but the Felda settlers themselves.

"So don't be like Selangor, their leaders got the mandate but it is the people who had to bear the brunt do to the failure of their government to manage water supply," he said at a 'Meet-the-People' session with Paya Besar constituents in Felda Lepar Hilir 1 here tonight.

Also present were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Paya Besar UMNO Division acting chief Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah.

For the record, China is among the top Malaysian palm oil buyers besides India and the European Union.

In this regard, Najib asked Felda settlers who have been strong supporters of the BN government all this while to make the right choice in GE14.

According to him, close diplomatic relations between Malaysia and other countries including Saudi Arabia and China had opened up many economic opportunities and brought benefits to the people in the country such as the increase in haj quota.

Najib also expressed his commitment to continue to carry out development agenda in rural areas.

At the event, Najib also fulfilled his wish to offer tahlil for two UMNO leaders namely Paya Besar UMNO division head Datuk Seri Abdul Manan Ismail, who died on Feb 12 and Lepar assemblyman who died Datuk Mohd Shohaimi who died on Dec 31.

Abdul Manan was also the MP for Paya Besar.

-- BERNAMA