Najib said he wanted to continue Tun Abdul Razak’s legacy as a whole because the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) were very close to the heart of the country’s second prime minister.
“There is no other leader in this country who has the model of a settler’s house in front of his own house at Seri Taman, and even before he (Tun Razak) passed away, he had asked that the model of the house be maintained as a reminder to all parties, including myself, that Felda and rural development were the basis of his struggles.
“Hence, as the next generation, we are obliged to continue his struggles. For this, we must plan additional programmes as the world has changed, the world of the 60s and 70s is no longer the same today,” he said when launching the national level Reducing Grocery Bills (Jimat Belanja Dapur) programme in Bandar Dara Chini here today.
Selling palm oil to China, India
Also present at the event were Fama chairman Badruddin Amiruldin, State Rural Development, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Shafik Fauzan Sharif and State Felda Affairs Committee chairman Abu Bakar Harun.
To continue improving the fate of the Felda community, he said the government forged good ties with the governments of China and India to market the country’s palm oil products.
“If China buys RM1.3 billion worth of palm oil, India RM 1 billion, the price of palm oil will continue to rise, then certainly the Felda community will be happy for having more income.
“But then we hear the opposition say they are going to cancel contracts with China and if that is done, then that country will not buy palm oil from Malaysia again.
“If that happens, then the price of palm oil will drop and affect the settlers but, under my leadership, the government will continue this struggle and, as such, we must continue to support the BN (Barisan Nasional) government,” he said.
Najib, who is also Pekan MP, said the situation was far different from that of an “expired” leader who administered the country previously and had never thought about the fate of the rural community.
“I have been working long under him, so I know his behaviour. I can read it one by one. He never intended to help the rural people. What I am doing now is far better than that leader.
He added that the records show the current government had provided more incentives to the settlers and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority had also been allocated RM2.7 billion for the period, 2011 to 2020 to develop irrigation systems.
“In fact, farmers had never before received monthly payments of RM200 for three months while waiting for padi harvesting and even fishermen are now receiving incentives,” he said.