KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Strengthening the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) must be a priority under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to ensure the long-term economic sustainability of settlers, a lawmaker told Parliament today.
Jempol MP Datuk Shamsulkahar Mohd Deli said 112,635 settlers across 317 Felda land schemes nationwide, including 36 in his constituency, require sustained and strategic government support to navigate new challenges.
He proposed adopting advanced technologies like drones and robotic machinery in oil palm plantations to boost yields and reduce reliance on foreign labour.
“There must also be efforts to accelerate infrastructure upgrades, as many existing facilities are over 40 years old and prone to breakdowns,” Shamsulkahar said when debating the motion on the 13MP in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Meanwhile, Pasir Salak MP Jamaludin Yahya urged Malaysia to prioritise the creation and development of future defence technologies, including drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity, to keep pace with global advancements.
He added that the nation should develop a self-reliant defence industry and position itself as a regional defence hub in Southeast Asia.
The Dewan Rakyat sitting resumes on Monday (August 18).
