Digest on Malaysian News

Felda is filing a defamation suit against several Pakatan Rakyat leaders, Suara Keadilan publishers and reporters for making a false claim that Felda was bankrupt and in disarray. Petronas, Felda, Sime Darby, MISC, Bank Bumiputra, etc. When are we going to learn? Come election, the rakyat vote them back into government for a mere RM50. That's what most of the poor kampung folks get.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan said they would sue them for hundreds of millions of ringgit.

“Felda is certainly not bankrupt as it has RM12.2bil in net assets,’’ he said.

Among those who would be named in the suit are Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, PKR political bureau member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, PAS’ Kuala Terengganu MP Mohd Abdul Wahid Endut, former Land and Co-operative Development deputy minister Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong who has now joined PKR, as well as Suara Keadilan chief editor Suhaimi Said, its owner and writers.

“We have spoken to our lawyers and we want to initiate a suit against them for making the false claims (in the Suara Keadilan June 22-29 edition).

“The title “Felda bangkrap” shows they have ill intention to discredit Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,’’ he said.

Ahmad had earlier called for a press conference to counter the lies spread by the opposition leaders.

“The lies have adversely affected investors’ and stakeholders’ confidence in the agency,’’ he said.

He said although Felda’s cash reserve had dropped from RM4.08bil in 2004 to RM1.35bil last year, its fixed asset had appreciated greatly from RM9.17bil to RM15.37bil during the corresponding period.

Felda is the world’s largest fully integrated oil-based plantation group owning 92 factories worldwide. Felda is also Malaysia’s biggest plantation owner with estates covering 853,000 ha nationwide.

Ahmad said the agenda of the opposition was to erode Felda settlers’ confidence in Umno.

“We know what they are up to because Felda settlements are Barisan Nasional strongholds, and the opposition leaders are willing to resort to lies to fish for votes,’’ he said.

Felda is also taking action against Dr Tan for stating in an open letter that the Prime Minister was single-handedly destroying Felda.

Zaid and Klang MP Charles Santiago had called on the authorities to investigate Dr Tan’s claim.

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