Felda settlers' support for BN still strong - Shahrir 
BENTONG, May 2 (Bernama) -- Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad is confident that over 90 per cent out of its 112,000 settlers at over 320 settlements nationwide still strongly support the Barisan Nasional (BN) government despite the many attempts made by the opposition to change their minds.
He said this was due to the efforts taken by both Felda and the government to help the settlers, including in restructuring their debts, providing houses to the second generation of settlers and engaging them in Felda activities to lure them to remain with the agency.
"The level of support from Felda settlers has now reached 93 or 94 per cent. The support from Felda is the foundation support for the government today," he told reporters after attending the meet-and-greet programme with Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob at Felda Chemomoi near here today.
Elaborating, he said Felda had restructured the replantation grants for the settlers and managed to reduce their debts by up to 70 per cent.
He said Felda had also allocated RM60 million a year for the next five years to help the settlers to settle their debts and remained with the agency.
On the housing project for the second generation of Felda settlers, Shahir said a total 8,474 houses were currently under construction.
-- BERNAMA
