KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi has slammed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for criticising incentives given to Felda settlers.
He said Muhyiddin had relied on probabilities and assumptions instead of facts in his argument against the six incentives announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on July 23.
"The RM1.588 billion worth of incentives were given for the purpose of incentive payment, debt disposal and the setting-up of a special fund and grant for replanting programmes – but Muhyiddin had tried to dismiss the incentives by questioning where the funds came from and asking about a recovery plan for Felda.
"However, he (also) reluctantly admitted that the incentives could ease the burden of Felda settlers.
"The funds did not come from the government, but from Felda and the Malaysian Palm Oil Board," he said at the Pandan Puteri Umno divisional meeting here today.
On July 28, Muhyiddin had questioned the incentives, which he described as being given "on a one-off basis" before the 14th general election and could only bring temporary relief.
In a Facebook post today, Puad, who is also Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director general said the six incentives are part of Felda's recovery plan from now until 2020 – which means that the incentives have a long-term purpose.
Puad also criticised PPBM chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for upholding crony capitalism during his 22-year premiership and his intention to privatise Felda.
"Muhyiddin and Mahathir were never interested in looking after the welfare of the settlers, as Felda was never part of their legacy.
"During Mahathir's leadership, not only had Felda never received any government allocation, it was almost privatised. Which is what he did to Proton.
"This is a stark contrast to former premier Tun Razak Hussein and his son Najib, who had placed Felda near and dear to their hearts. They aimed to eradicate poverty among Malays and Felda was part of the strategy," he added.
Puad, who was once Deputy Education Minister under Muhyiddin, also condemned the latter for not paying due attention to remote rural schools when he was Education Minister.
“When he was the Education Minister, he never visited a school in the interior except for one trip he made to a school in Limbang.
"This is why he was not well versed on issues faced by schools in rural areas.
“It shocked him when I showed a photograph of me traveling through the jungles of Nabawan, Sabah, to visit a remote school there,” he added.