TWO of my uncles were first-generation Felda settlers. Pak Uda Majid went to Bukit Ramun in Kulai and Pak Su Yonan to Chempelak, Labis, both in Johor.
A farmer collecting oil palm fruits. , about 100 km (62 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur February 22, 2012. Malaysia could delay a $2-billion listing of a state-linked palm oil firm as farmers’ opposition to the deal risks undermining the ruling coalition in fiercely contested national polls expected this year. The listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings will enable the commercial arm to scale greater heights.
I remember sending Pak Su some time in 1965. I was shocked to see the place. I couldn’t help wondering why would he leave the comfort of kampung life for the “settlement”. For those who joined Felda back then, they had only a house as shelter. They had to do everything, including planting the rubber trees.
But I knew Pak Su had no choice. Life was tough for him. The little piece of land he had in the village was tanah pusaka (ancestral land) and could hardly support his eight children. In Chempelak, he survived the mosquitoes, hardships and perhaps at times despair. He was known for his other capability — cutting hair, thus he became Yonan Gunting. A barber was in such demand that the entire settlement depended on him. The hill where his house was situated was even referred to as Bukit Yonan.
He died seven years ago. Many of his children became settlers themselves or married other settlers. So, too, Pak Uda. He died in Mecca while performing the haj two years ago.
Like Pak Su, Pak Uda is a true blue Felda man. They were indebted to Felda for changing their lives. They escaped the yoke of poverty. Many of their brethren in the villages endured more hardships and could not even own land.
Felda is social engineering at its best — a comprehensive, well-thought-out, well-executed plan mooted in the 1950s. It has become a poster boy for poverty eradication. It has achieved its aims beyond the planners’ wildest dreams. Not only the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands are directly affected by the programme but the businesses involved — from rubber to palm oil — contribute significantly to the country’s economy.
Felda today is moving to the next level. It will soon have sparkling new headquarters at one of the most expensive addresses in Kuala Lumpur. And it will make its presence felt not only at the local bourse but also at the global level with the planned listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH).
What a journey it has been from the first official Felda settlement in Lembah Bilud in 1959 to what it is today. The 30 settlers that arrived on Aug 2 that year had no idea what awaited them. They were true pioneers, not unlike those who braved the American West to find fortune and riches. But the settlers in Lembah Bilud were more realistic — they wanted to change their lives, earn a living and raise their families.
Many outside the Felda realm are quite perplexed by the commotion in regards to the proposed listing exercise. Koperasi Permodalan Felda (KPF), one of the key players, was not able to convene an extraordinary general meeting to decide whether to sell the 51 per cent stake it owns in Felda Holdings Berhad (FHB) to FGVH.
Eight Felda settlers were granted an interim injunction this week by the Kuantan High Court to stop KPF from transferring its shares in FHB and 10 of its subsidiaries to FGVH. Although KPF owns a 51 stake in FHB, it does not have a stake in the government-owned FGVH.
Imagine how a decision by so few is affecting the interests of the 220,000 KPF members, 112,635 of whom are Felda settlers. KPF would have made history as part of one of the largest producers of crude palm oil in the world.
The listing of FGVH will proceed, says Felda chairman Tan Sri Isa Samad, regardless of KPF’s stand. They are going to miss the opportunity of swapping their 51 per cent stake in FHB with a 51 stake in FGVH. In layman’s terms, the market capitalisation of the listed entity will make it one of the top 10 companies on Bursa Malaysia. The financial might of the listed entity will benefit KPF and its members. But, sadly, sentimentality reigns, or perhaps there are other sinister agendas by some quarters.
Both my uncles would never have dreamt that the promised land for the poor would one day be part of a huge business concern worth billions. They would be clueless what the listing means. They came as poor farmers and died as relatively contented ones. They wanted the best for their children and grandchildren, some of whom are perhaps members of KPF.
Their sweat and tears must not be forgotten for they are part of the grand narrative of Felda. They certainly wanted the best for the future generations of Felda.
At least do justice to them.
zulu.jj@hotmail.com