KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18: The DAP has formed a parliamentary bureau to help its elected representatives champion the cause of Felda settlers.
DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang in a statement said, the DAP formed the bureau to support its MPs in making sure that Felda settlers do not become victims of bad decisions, especially in the light of Felda’s recent controversial and some say, reckless decisions.
The bureau is led by DAP Raub MP Mohamad Ariff Sabri, and its deputy chair is Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua. Other members of the bureau are Kasthuri Patto (MP for Batu Kawan); Tengku Zulpuri Puji (Pahang Assemblyman for Mentakab); Lee Kee Hiong (Selangor Assemblywoman for Kuala Kubu Baru).
“The appointment of Shahrir Samad as the new Felda Chairman has not alleviated the concerns and even worries of the Felda settlers that their legitimate rights and interests and properly safeguarded and protected,” he said.
Yesterday, it was reported that Felda is selling its stake in Maybank to raise RM280 million, in addition to disposing of its overseas assets.
Lim said, it is the height of irony that Shahrir’s appointment as chairman has led to more turbulence.
“Shahrir’s appointment as Felda Chairman has led to more turbulence in the stock market with talk that Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) may be taken private, presenting the deep chasm between the lucrative promise when FGV was listed at an IPO price of RM4.55 in 2012 and its doldrum RM1.70 range at present,” he said.
Shahrir, said Lim, should learn to be more circumspect in his statements and not to “rock the boat” with his speculative talk of the possibility of taking FGV private, without any study being made.
“Before the new Chairman could assure Felda settlers about various controversies, including Felda’s controversial purchase of a 37 percent stake in Indonesian plantation firm Eagle High Plantations, which critics, including CIMB chairperson Nazir Abdul Razak, said was overpriced, new controversies have arisen including reports that Felda is selling part of its stake in Maybank to raise up to RM280 million,” he added. – The Rocket
