Felda loses RM200 million defamation suit against ex-deputy minister

Malaysia's Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and its investment company Felda Global Ventures Holdings Sdn Bhd have lost their RM 200 million defamation suit against former Deputy Land and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Dr Tan Kee Kwong, today 16th August 2011.



Dr Tan Kee Kwong (picture above) served as the deputy minister of Land and Cooperatives Development from 1999 to 2004. On May 29th, 2008, Dr Tan became the second Gerakan leader to take up a post with an Opposition-led Selangor state government.

In court papers, the two had claimed that Dr Tan had caused the publication of defamatory words in Suara Keadilan in its June 22-29 2010 editions.

In the suit filed on Jan 25, 2011, the two claimed that the words implied that the plaintiffs were involved in corruption and had committed an unlawful act.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Justice Zabariah Mohd Yusof held that the plaintiffs failed to prove that Dr Tan uttered defamatory words and was responsible for the publication of such words in the newspaper report.

Felda has to pay RM100,000 in costs to Dr Tan.

However Felda has to pay only RM70,000 in costs as the defendant has to pay RM30,000 costs to plaintiffs for the preliminary point raised in the suit earlier.

In his statement of defence, Dr Tan had admitted to have given an interview to a Suara Keadilan newspaper reporter named as Faizal Zakaria, but claimed he did not defame the two plaintiffs.

Alternatively, Dr Tan said the words were true, in fact, and that they were published on an occasion of qualified privilege.

Peneroka FELDA dapat duit raya RM42.6 Juta untuk Aidil Fitri 2011

Felda sudah dapat duit raya untuk Hari Raya 2011. Bagaimana pula dengan peneroka dan peserta Felcra dan Risda??

Bagaimana pula dengan kakitangan kerajaan pusat dan negeri?

Berita baik pemberian duit raya 2011 untuk peneroka FELDA di seluruh negara itu diumumkan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak pada 2 Ramadhan 1432 Hijrah bersamaan 2 Ogos 2011.

Perdana Menteri mengumumkan pemberian 'duit raya' itu kepada kesemua 112,635 warga peneroka Felda membabitkan peruntukan berjumlah RM42.6 juta.

Menurut Perdana Menteri, daripada jumlah itu, seramai 100,357 peneroka atau 89.1 peratus yang bersama Felda akan menerima RM400 seorang yang melibatkan peruntukan berjumlah RM40.14 juta.

Bakinya seramai 12,278 atau 10.9 peratus peneroka yang tidak bersama Felda pula akan menerima RM200 seorang melibatkan peruntukan berjumlah RM2.46 juta.

Bayaran duit raya itu akan dibuat kepada semua peneroka dalam minggu kedua bulan Ramadan dan dibayar di peringkat rancangan Felda seluruh negara.

Pemberian duit raya itu adalah untuk menghargai sumbangan peneroka kepada pembangunan Felda di samping membantu perbelanjaan persiapan menjelang Hari Lebaran pada 1 Syawal 1432 Hijrah.

Najib berkata pemberian duit raya kepada warga Felda tahun ini meningkat RM5.41 juta atau 14.54 peratus berbanding RM37.20 juta pada 2010, tahun lalu.

Tahun lalu, peneroka yang bersama Felda atau yang menjual hasil kepada Felda menerima RM350 seorang manakala yang tidak bersama Felda pula RM150 seorang.

Perdana Menteri berharap pemberian wang ini akan dapat meringankan beban kewangan para peneroka dalam membuat persiapan menyambut ketibaan Syawal.

Pada kesempatan itu juga, Datuk Seri Najib menyeru kepada peneroka yang tidak bersama Felda agar dapat kembali bersama Felda bagi memaju dan memakmurkan lagi tanah rancangan.

Another first for FELDA, to undertake deep sea tuna fishing

LAHAD DATU, Sabah, 11 April 2011:

FELDA is leaping another step into a new milestone, expanding its operation into deep sea Tuna fishing, apart from the traditional land development operations since yesteryears.

Felda recently announced that deep sea tuna fishing in Sabah will take off soon.

Felda or the Federal Land Development Authority is expected to play a big role in the maritime industry of which Sabah is well known for its rich diversity and sources.

Felda Director-General, Dato’ Dzulkifli Abdul Wahab said the agency was looking beyond its core business of oil palm, in order to provide more economic opportunities for the children of Felda settlers.




“We want to tap the huge potential that Sabah seas have to offer, in particular for the new generation,” he said at the inaugural graduation ceremony of Felda settler children of BEST International College at Kolej Integrasi Ilmu, Felda Sahabat, Sabah on Sunday 10th April 2011.

“Felda has an agreement with Pembangunan Samudera ( Sabah ) Sdn Bhd, a Sabah-based private sector corporation, for the deep sea tuna venture, and it is about time to put into effect, our plans to create further economic growth in the area.”

He reckoned the new generation (children of early settlers) needed to benefit from other economic opportunities, apart from oil palm, so that they too could have a better future in life.

Dato’ Dzulkifli said Felda’s foray into human capital development in Sabah – in particular the maritime and hospitality sectors, was to train the settler children in new areas of economic opportunities.

“The waters off Lahad Datu for example are teeming with rich marine resources and it is only right to train our youths in the maritime sector as we need skilled workers to make our maritime ventures a success.

“Similarly, the tourism industry in Sabah is booming, and this sector needs more and more well-trained workers,” he added.

Commenting on the new graduates, Dato’ Dzulkifli said Felda would seriously consider providing scholarships to those who excel to further their studies overseas.

He said Felda has an annual allocation of RM50 million for education and skills development nationwide, and each year there are some 5,000 school-leavers completing their Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia from all Felda schemes.



On another note, Dato’Dzulkifli said Felda would also be involved in a seaweed cultivation project in Semporna as part of a poverty eradication programme with the hardcore poor there.

He said the project would lift off once various matters, including land ownership, is finalized.

Meanwhile, PSSSB Chief Executive Officer, Encik Kamarul Baharin Osman, said the company would be able to start the tuna venture within six months of getting the green light from Felda.

“The facilities that are required to process and store the marine resources that we catch, apart from tuna, are all available and can be put up and be running within six months,” he added.

All the best FELDA...