Felda settler debt issue: Muhyiddin dug his own grave - Shabery Cheek

KUALA LUMPUR - Felda chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek has described the actions of Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of pursuing his lawsuit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on the Felda settler debt waiver issue as detrimental to himself.

Shabery went on to say that Muhyiddin had dug his own grave.

He said the agreement with Felda under Anwar’s leadership regarding the payment of almost RM1 billion annually was sufficient in proving no prior agreements had been made.

“The last agreement between the government and Felda is solid proof that there were no such agreements.

“He (Muhyiddin) ordered to pay off the debt, Felda was ordered to pay off the debt (taking a sukuk) and not one commitment was clear on how the government would pay off the debt incurred by Felda.

“Only our current PM (Anwar) made a clear commitment through the government’s assurance that was signed,” he told reporters when met after attending the Felda Generation Town Hall organised by Kami Anak Felda (Kaf) here on Saturday.

Shabery explained the agreement was a relief especially towards guaranteeing a steady financial flow to aid settlers.

“This means if anything occurred to the government, it must continue to be paid for. The government cannot not simply say they have a lack of budget this year and such,” he said.

He urged for Muhyiddin to solve the issue by making an open admission that the Felda debt issue was never solved to a level of which there is a guarantee from the government.

“Felda did not start in 2021. If you want to say that is the results, we must look further to the struggles that the people had gone through,” he said.

It was reported earlier that Muhyiddin who is also the Pagoh MP would continue his lawsuit against Anwar after he failed to submit an unconditional and public apology within 24 hours as contained in the lawyer’s letter of demand that he sent to Anwar,

He claimed the evidence presented by Anwar was not on the Felda settler debt waiver, but rather about sukuk.

Anwar on Friday sent a legal claim to Muhyiddin asking for RM200 million in damages regarding the defamation allegations linked to the Felda settler debt issue.

Anwar had asked for an apology from Muhyiddin within 24 hours.