Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today announced an incentive of RM500 for each Felda settler family to assist them in celebrating Aidilfitri.
He also announced that Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd (FGV) will be paying out a dividend of RM280 to each Felda settler.
Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said the incentive payment involved an allocation of RM47.28 million while for the dividend payout RM26.4 million, which will benefit 94,555 settlers.
The Prime Minister also announced compassionate payment of RM400 for mosque chairmen, RM500 for imams, RM300 (bilal) and RM200 (siak), which involves an overall allocation of RM674,400.
"For the major mosquea, a compassionate payment of RM500 will be given to the imam and RM300 to the bilal.
"I want to make it clear that this Hari Raya incentive payment will be made only to all those dealing with Felda..those who do not (settlers who do not sell their produce to Felda), if you want to sue Felda, I am sorry...not included," he said at the national-level "Ihya Rahmat Ramadan Felda" celebration in Felda Sungai Sayong here.
Najib said the government has also not forgotten the 3,625 Felda staff who will be given a special incentive of between 10 and 30 per cent of their basic salary, to be paid this month, in recognition of their contributions.
There will also be an additional incentive of 10 percent of basic salary that will be given to frontline staff in Felda settlements.
"So, this means he will get two payments (bonus and incentive)," he said.
At the same time, Najib announced that four Felda schemes for the Tenggara parliamentary constituency will get allocations, namely Felda Bukit Ramon (RM1.35 million), Pasir Raja (RM700,00), Sungai Sayong (RM2.2 million) and Bukit Besar (RM2.2 million) enatiling the constuction of a 13.7-kilometre road.
The Prime Minister also stated that he had given his consent for Felda settlement roads in Johor to be maintained as per the Malaysian Road Records Information System (MARRIS).
He said his consent was based on a request by Johor Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin for assistance to manage the roads in these areas following the handing over of proprietorship of land to Felda settlers.
Earlier, in his speech, Mohamed Khaled said there was no longer any difference between Felda settlements which had land proprietorship and other villages in Johor.
"So it is only right that the roads in Felda settlements which have been granted land proprietorship to have the same status as other villages where the roads are managed under the MARRIS system," Mohamed Khaled said.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Datuk Halimah Sadique, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Razali Ibrahim and Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abd Samad, .
-- BERNAMA
Bernama
Sat Jun 10 2017

Najib presents incentives to Felda settlers at the National Level Felda Ramadan Ihya Rahmat programme at Felda Sungai Sayong here, tonight. -- fotoBERNAMA

Lebanese search for dead in devastated villages as Israel withdraws
Hezbollah says Israel was still occupying Lebanese territory and put the onus on the Lebanese state to get Israeli forces out.

China promises Latin America 'trustworthy' ties as Trump lays out demands
Beijing looks to improve its foothold in a region historically under the US sphere of influence.

Major risks loom as Trump upends US Russia policy
Washington's approach changes dramatically with the initial meeting between US and Russian negotiators.

Pope Francis has double pneumonia, complicating his treatment, Vatican says
Doctors say a polymicrobial infection occurs when two or more micro-organisms are involved and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

Philippines' VP Duterte challenges impeachment before Supreme Court
Sara Duterte makes her first legal move to fight the case that could lead to her removal and lead to a lifetime ban from public office.

Motor racing - Hamilton steps out in red at unprecedented 10 team F1 launch
I feel so full of life, so much energy, because everything's new and I'm just focused on what is up ahead, Hamilton says.

UAE tells US' Rubio it rejects displacement of Palestinians
The UAE's stance matters as its one of four Arab nations that normalised ties with Israel during Trumps first term.

Taylor Swift wins recording artist of the year crown for fifth time
The megastar's "The Tortured Poets Department" record also topped four IFPI charts, the IFPI says.

More than $50 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, World Bank joint assessment says
Years of rebuilding work, including clearing unexploded ordinance and millions of tonnes of rubble lie ahead.

Malaysia’s AI data centre development to be impacted by recent US restrictions - Liew
Liew Chin Tong says the restrictions would not affect the development of the domestic data centre ecosystem as a whole.

Sweden's top court rejects Greta Thunberg lawsuit on climate action
A court cannot decide that the parliament or the government must take any specific action, the Supreme Court says.
![[COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream [COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-10/51728873693_EMIR.jpg)
[COLUMNIST] Trump’s Gaza (pipe) dream
The Gaza plan is dangerous and counter-productive as it's merely another recipe for regional instability.

Sivasangari eyes new career-high in world rankings
After climbing to a career-best world number seven, national women's squash ace S. Sivasangari is determined to keep rising.

Outburst against Steven Sim: DAP will probe if there's a complaint - Loke
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke says the disciplinary committee has not received any reports related to the incident so far.

US judge will not block Elon Musk from firing federal workers, accessing data
The case raises questions about Musk's apparent unchecked authority as a top deputy to President Donald Trump.

Dozens of false killer whales stranded on remote Australian beach
Rescue crews trying to save the majority of the large dolphins that survived the ordeal, according to authorities.

Trump restricts AP access over Gulf of Mexico issue
The AP, citing editorial standards, says it would continue to use the gulf's established name.

China to fly back 200 nationals rescued from Myanmar scam centres, Thai official says
This is part of a multinational effort to crack down on illegal online operations run from the region.

Somber Tiger Woods back in action in TGL loss to New York GC
Tiger Woods makes his first start since the death of his mother when he competed in a TGL match at Palm Beach Gardens.

Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot
A total of 34 people were charged, including several military officials.