PM: Younger generation the future of Felda's success

PUTRAJAYA: The younger generation must be given enough opportunities to prove themselves as the bearer of Felda's future success, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
"The new generation must be given the chance to enroll into university. If they fail to qualify to enter university then they must be given the chance to pursue other fields such as vocational training," he said in his opening speech at the "Himpunan Iktiraf Felda 2014" at Dataran Pancarona here today.
"They must possess other abilities. We do not want these generation to turn into hooligans and drug addicts," he said.
The second and third generation of Felda settlers must not forget the efforts and struggles of the first generation of settlers in order to bring Felda further into the global arena, he added.
He said the fighting spirit of the original settlers must be alive but the younger generation must change their attitude about working with new technologies.

"If the first generation were forest settlers, the new generation is the concrete jungle settlers.
"They are not using hoe, axe or bulldozer anymore, but using their intelligence," he said.
"They must use the new technological advancement in order to see the success of Felda second and third generation. The most important thing is to have a change in mindset," he said.
Najib reiterated that Felda must target the international market to turn it into an economic powerhouse.

He added that Felda must not only target the economy within Malaysia.

"Felda must have control on the global supply chain," he said.
"Felda needs to find partners that can help them tap the international market," he said.
Najib said the success achieved by Felda since its establishment 58 years ago has made it a model for other countries to follow.
"Many countries have tried to replicate Felda, but none were able to achieve what Malaysia has in developing the life standard of rural communities," he said.