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Diesel Subsidies Will Help End Electricity, Water Woes In Felda Sahabat, Sabah

(File pict)

LAHAD DATU, July 7 (Bernama) -- Several initiatives for the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today will change the lives of not only the current generation of settlers in Felda Sahabat near here but also of their future generations.

Felda Sahabat 3 settler, Junaidi Apdal said the RM36 million annual diesel subsidy borne by the Federal Government for energy and water treatment operations will finally put an end to the electricity and water supply issue in the area, and bring cheer to the 43,000 settlers here.

“We here at Felda have to do without electricity and water supply quite often, so we hope that the problems are settled with the announcement of the diesel subsidy for their operation. We hope the announcement will bring better days for us,” he told Bernama.

Junaidi, 51, said the announcement, coupled with the new Felda leadership helmed by Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, have convinced settlers here that the authority will continue to progress and all projects will be sped up and breathe new life for settlers.

Felda Sahabat is located on the east coast of Sabah, around 510 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, and is divided into seven areas, Felda Sahabat 1, Felda Sahabat 2,  Felda Sahabat 3, Felda Sahabat 4/5, Felda Umas 1, Felda Umas 2/3, and Felda Umas 4.

Second generation Felda Umas 4 settler, Mohd Iqmal Rahman, 38, shared that daily life in the settlement was often disrupted by the lack of consistent electricity and water supply.

“Therefore, with the diesel subsidy, there is no need for rationing, which usually wreaks havoc on our household appliances,” he said.

The prime minister was reported to have said today that Felda has spent almost RM128 million for energy generation and water supply treatment and distribution in Kompleks Sahabat, Umas and Kalabakan near here, and announced an allocation of RM36 million annually for such operations.

Felda Sahabat 4/5 settler, Datu Ibrahim Datu Abd Karim, 59, said that efforts to build 12 hemodialysis centres based on an allocation of RM21 million would benefit Felda settlers who are elderly and in need of better healthcare facilities.

He expressed hope that the settlement would have a hemodialysis centre, which he said was greatly needed as they were far away from any complete healthcare facility.

“The initiatives announced today are inclusive and will benefit everyone, including the annual RM7.7 million for roads to brighten our areas, this definitely will help boost road safety and reduce accidents in the area,” he added.

Felda Umas 2/3 settler, Bakiri Saping meanwhile said that the abolishment of 80 per cent of debts owed by Felda settlers would bring huge relief, and hoped that the initiative would be realised as best as possible and provide a positive impact to all settlers.

“Writing off debts isn’t something new, and settlers were disappointed several times previously as announcements were made by nothing was done well, as settlers were still burdened with debt. But the current government is different and we hope to see a positive effect,” he said.

Bakiri, 54, said the write off mechanism needed to ensure that settlers could continue to live on the Felda settlements by giving them to opportunity to develop, and to invest in new agricultural technology without being burdened by issues of repayment.

-- BERNAMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

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