We had earlier covered the woes of the settlers of Felda Bukit Rokan Utara. Their problem was and is, the failure of the local Felda office to manage the maintenance of the oil palm plantation after replanting from rubber.

As a result, the palms are stunted, there is general crop failure and not much harvesting has been done. This leaves the settlers in dire financial straits.

The woes of the settlers of Felda Kepis, just kilometres from Felda Bukit Rokan Utara is similar. But has to do with rubber.

Two years ago the smallholdings were cleared off their rubber plantation and new rubber seedlings would be planted. But since then, nothing has happened and some of the plantations are overgrown with underbrush.

In some areas the felled trees and just left in a heap.

These are not opposition supporters - there are 3 Umno branches. They lay the blame not on Felda, but on the local Felda manager and the contractor contracted to do the land clearing. The excuse of the local Felda office? No seedlings.