S’WAK POLLS Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairperson Mohd Isa Abdul Samad has urged villagers and plantation workers in Marudi to vote for the BN candidate, saying that he would snub anyone else who wins the election.
In a speech yesterday afternoon, Isa repeatedly stressed that it is important for all elected representatives, state governments and the federal government to come from the same political coalition.
Otherwise, he said, it would be difficult to cooperate and resolve the people’s problems, because the various stakeholders involved are not on the same page.
“No matter what happens in the election, Felda will be here, but who is going to represent you to see me and my officers after the election?
“If he is not from BN, who wants to see him? How to solve the problems? That’s why when May 7 comes, vote for BN.
“If (Marudi BN candidate) Penguang Manggil wins, easy! Just call and say, ‘Tan Sri, we have a little problem’. If someone else wins, I’m not even going to pick up the phone,” Isa told a crowd that laughed and cheered in response.
The Felda-owned Felda Global Ventures (FGV) owns an oil palm mill in the area through a subsidiary, as well as some of the surrounding oil palm plantations.
The mill also served as a venue for yesterday’s event.
The crowd numbered around 500 people, most of whom came from the plantations as well as the surrounding villages, including those from the neighbouring state constituency Telang Usan, wearing BN’s blue shirts.
In the rural constituency of Marudi, the former civil servant Penguang (standing in phot above) is facing PKR’s Elia Bit and Independent candidate Loius Jalong. All three are new comers to the election.
Isa told the audience that if Penguang wins, there will also be discussions on how to help the many oil palm smallholders in the area to improve their yield.
The oil palm can then be sold to Felda, and both sides stand to profit.
“This is if we win the election,” he said.
In his speech, the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar also rubbished the achievements of the Pakatan Harapan-led governments in Penang and Selangor.
He said these achievements were the result of efforts by the previous BN-led administrations, and the Pakatan-led governments have little to add to it.
