BENTONG: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will propose that the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) be placed under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry at the next cabinet meeting, once he receives approval from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, said that he would first present the proposal to Anwar before submitting it to the cabinet.
"Once the Prime Minister agrees, I will bring it to the cabinet. We hope to coordinate this soon," he said.
"Felda's administration is currently under the deputy prime minister and not under the jurisdiction of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry but...it is two different matters," he told reporters after launching the Agropolitan Chemomoi latex collection complex for rubber smallholders in Pelangai near here today.
Last month, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the proposal to place Felda under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry would be raised in Cabinet and the relevant ministers.
In other developments, Zahid encouraged Risda to add value to mature rubber trees by processing them into furniture made from rubber wood.
He said that rubber wood, which is in strong demand globally, could provide smallholders with a lucrative side income.
"Rubberwood can be used to create furniture, which fetches high prices in the market. I don't want Risda to only sell untreated wood," he said, adding that treated rubber tree logs from 25,000 hectares could generate up to RM9 billion.
Zahid also launched the RM423,000 Agropolitan Chemomoi latex collection complex in Pelangai, adding that more such centres would be built next year to help boost latex production.
Also present were Pahang Committee for Islamic Affairs, Rural Development, and Orang Asli Affairs chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, Risda chairman Manndzri Nasib, and Risda director-general Zainal Azni Zulkifli.