FELDA settlers will be receiving RM300 each as ‘duit raya’

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced that FELDA settlers will be receiving ‘duit raya’, while he was on his three-day working visit to Japan on May 31.

Each settler will be given RM300 as ‘duit raya’. With 112,635 settlers, the government has allocated RM34 million for this special aid.

The Hari Raya incentive saw a decrease as RM450 was given to each FELDA settlers in 2018.

However, according to the Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, the government initially did not intend on giving out ‘duit raya’ to FELDA settlers this year.

Instead, the government was planning on handing out ‘Cost of Living and Advance on Produce incentives’ to settlers before Aidilfitri.

Azmin gave the statement as an update on the Hari Raya incentive, which was yet to be finalised at that time.

Nevertheless, no ‘duit raya’ for FELDA settlers this year became an issue.

FELDA NGOs National Council (MPNF) chairman Datuk Mazlan Aliman wrote a letter to the Prime Minister to reconsider on not giving out ‘duit raya’ to the settlers, citing that it has been a practice by the government since 2011.

Additionally, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also urged the government to reconsider the decision, stating that the Hari Raya incentive will ease the settlers’ burden during the festive season.

After the final decision was made and RM300 ‘duit raya’ for FELDA settlers was announced, Mazlan expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the allocation.