Felda Seeks Rm6 Billion Government Bailout Says Report

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The PH government has promised to look into Felda’s financial troubles and alleged graft.KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Land Development Authority is seeking RM6 billion from the government to help turn itself around, Bloomberg reports
The request will be included in a white paper on the company scheduled to be introduced in Parliament tomorrow, the report said citing a source
If approved, the funds would be paid out in stages, it added
Felda has been struggling to pay down debt amid financial losses and corruption allegations
The Pakatan Harapan government which came to power last year had vowed to look into Felda’s financial troubles and alleged graft
Felda and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which is preparing the white paper, did not respond to requests for comment on the Bloomberg report
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng told reporters on Tuesday the government had to support Felda as the previous government had caused “huge losses”. He did not elaborate
Felda was set up to help oil palm  farmers, who work for the agency, and also has a one-third stake in FGV Holdings Bhd, the world’s largest crude palm oil producer
Palm oil farmers on Felda land have been grappling with rising costs of living and high debt due to insufficient income
Felda has diversified in recent years into property, including hotels, both locally and overseas, but has been plagued by issues of poor management
Last year, Felda said it would sell assets including property in London, restructure some loans, and try to boost cash flow to trim nearly US$2 billion in debt
A former Felda chairman was charged in December with breach of trust and receiving bribes over the purchase of a Malaysian hotel while he was in charge of Felda
The government has said it would investigate several “highly suspicious” deals done by the previous administration, including the US$500 million acquisition of a non-controlling stake in Indonesia’s Eagle High Plantations. The deal had drawn criticism as it was seen as overpriced. - FMT

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