Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will officiate the national-level 2020 Felda Settlers Day at the Felda Mara Junior Science College (MRSM), Tun Abdul Razak Campus in Trolak, Sungkai, today.

Themed "Peneroka Perintis, Berani dan Suka Cabaran'' (Pioneer Settlers, Courageous and Challenging), the celebration will be held under the new normal by complying with the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO), with only 250 guests, including 110 settlers from 11 Felda regions, present.

The Prime Minister's inaugural Felda Settler's Day speech will not only be broadcast live on television, but there will be live streaming at all 11 Felda regions to get the message across to all settlers.

What will be more interesting is that the Prime Minister will hold online interactive sessions with the four Felda regional offices,namely Terengganu; Segamat (Johor); Jengka (Pahang) and Alor Setar (Kedah), with a maximum of 30 settlers to be present at each of the office to ensure compliance with the SOP.

The Prime Minister is also expected to present four awards, namely for achievements in increasing oil palm and rubber production, Felda entrepreneur with highest income and most beautiful Felda village.

Apart from that, Muhyiddin will also witness the handing over of replica house keys for recipients of the new generation housing project at Felda Laka Selatan, Changlun, Kedah, and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Felda and several agencies.

Today, the Prime Minister will also launch the Trolak Herbal Valley with the first phase of planting, involving five land schemes in the Trolak zone, namely Trolak Utara, Trolak Selatan, Trolak Timur, Sungai Klah and Sungai Behrang, covering 59.24 hectares.

The herbs that have been identified for the commercial farming project which will be carried out by the settlers are misai kucing, belalai gajah (sabah snake grass), sacha inchi, roselle and senna.

The idea to set up the herbal vally was prompted by the planting of gaharu trees by a second generation Felda settler, Aminah Md Saad, in Felda Trolak Utara, who have so far been able to produce perfume, herbs, soap, balm and tea.

-- BERNAMA