SEGAMAT, July 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has pledged to resolve the long-standing issue of providing housing sites for the second generation of Felda settlers.
He said its implementation, however, requires the cooperation of state governments, as land matters and the provision of basic infrastructure fall under their jurisdiction.
“Our policy decision is to find a solution to ensure there is protection and a guarantee of housing sites for the second generation of Felda settlers. That is our policy.
“I have made it clear that I want the issues affecting the second generation, which have remained unresolved for decades, to be settled while I am Prime Minister, together with the minister responsible for Felda affairs,” he said when addressing a meet-the-people programme at Dataran Putra Felda Palong Timur in the Buloh Kasap state constituency here today.
Also present were Selangor Menteri Besar and PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, and Deputy National Unity Minister and Segamat MP R. Yuneswaran.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that since land matters fall under the jurisdiction of state governments, close consultations with the respective state administrations are necessary to facilitate the provision of basic infrastructure before any housing project can be implemented.
The Prime Minister said he would meet Felda’s top management tomorrow, before holding a meeting with the Premier of Sarawak, Menteri Besar and Chief Ministers within a month for further discussions.
“I hope all the Menteri Besar will attend. As for Johor, I don’t know whether it will be the current Menteri Besar or a new one — that is for the people to decide, not me.
“But when I call the meeting, please come. All the Menteri Besar should attend. The Sarawak Premier should come, the Kelantan Menteri Besar should come, and even the outspoken Kedah Menteri Besar should come,” he said.
Anwar said the government was also paying attention to the provision of affordable housing, particularly in Johor Bahru, where house prices continue to rise, as many young people, including those from Felda families, migrate to the city for work.
To address the issue, he said the government had approved the development of Rumah Madani priced at RM300,000 and below to help young people and working families own homes.
He said the government had also approved the construction of 1,700 housing units on federal government land, including in Larkin, to meet the housing needs of workers and young people.
The Prime Minister also said this year’s Settlers’ Day celebration on July 7 would be held in Temerloh instead of Kuala Lumpur as practised previously, to bring the programme closer to the settler community.
He said Johor was also being considered as the venue for next year’s Settlers’ Day celebration, subject to further discussions. — Bernama
