“I have concluded that Felda settlers can be considered selfish because they have everything. They have 10 acres of land to build a house and they can build a bungalow, something that even urban folks can’t do.
“They have 10 acres of field, but the Indonesians are working the field. That’s why Umno is strong. They (Felda settlers) have nothing to do, but they always want to fight.
“So they spend their time hanging out at the coffee shops, talking and talking.”
Ariff was speaking at Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Felda Convention held at the Dewan Jubli Perak Sultan Abdul Aziz here this afternoon.
Also present was PKR’s Rafizi Ramli, opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s Felda committee chief Wan Mohd Shahrir Abd Jalil, among others.
Ariff said Felda settlers need to change to ensure a better future for them and the coming generations.
He then called for Felda settlers to be brave and not fall for Barisan Nasional’s (BN) claim that they, along with all Malays, may lose their power if the opposition becomes the government.
Ariff also said that the problems faced by Felda settlers are the same as that faced by those in the urban areas, which among others was the rising cost of living.
“In Raub, the Chinese have nothing to do with Felda yet the government continues to blame DAP for all the problems Felda settlers and their families are facing.
“This is (Prime Minister) Najib Razak’s attempt to demonise the opposition. But throw away your selfishness and be brave to stand up for your rights,” Ariff said, adding that the opposition will not abolish any institutions that have been helping the Malays, including Felda.
Ariff then cited what he said was a verse from the Quran that could be taken as a warning to “Felda settlers and the Malays”.
“There will come a Muslim who is intoxicating and impressive. But when he turns his back on you, he will destroy all the fields and the plantation,” Ariff said in Bahasa Malaysia, translating what he had originally recited in Arabic.
“So, I want to tell Felda settlers, don’t gamble on future. Don’t trust BN, vote for Pakatan Harapan.”