FELCRA Scandal

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17: After exposing widespread wastages and mismanagement in Felda, the National Felda Settlers’ Children’s Association (ANAK) today revealed at least 22 cases of mismanagement by Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra) and its holding companies. The cases include mismanagement in the agency's Koperasi Peserta-Peserta Felcra Berhad (KPFB), Special Business Unit and a scam worth RM17 million of investments in unauthorized purchase of bonds. Among others, the latest exposure relates to misappropriation of the supply of Keiserite fertilizers which did not comply with specifications. Speaking to the press at the PAS headquarters today, ANAK chairman Mazlan Aliman said more revelations were forthcoming and would be done in series to allow Felcra answer the allegations. Also present were chairman of the Felcra Task Force, Akmaluddin Mohd Noor and Lenggong PAS chief, Razman Zakaria. Mazlan said his team would require a week to prepare and compile documents relating to complaints about “fraud, mismanagement and abuse of power” in Felcra schemes to be circulated to the press. He also called for a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations against Felcra, and urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to speed up its investigation on reports lodged against the agency last January. According to Mazlan, ANAK had formed a new non-governmental organisation to help Felcra settlers to air their complaints as well as a task force to submit evidences to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam). Felcra is the latest government agency to come under scrutiny over allegations of graft and abuse of settlers' funds. The latest allegations come hot on the heels of revelations that Felda squandered billions of ringgit in cash reserves. Earlier this month, a gathering by Felcra settlers in Pasir Salak, Perak was ambushed by police, and ended with the arrest of 30 people including 10 from PAS's Welfare Unit. Felcra is a government agency established in 1966 to improve standard of living among rural people and reduce income disparities through land consolidation and rehabilitation programmes. Among its main activities is develop idle land found in villages all over the country.