KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- The Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) will sue "Suara Keadilan", the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) organ, and several opposition leaders over the publication of articles alleging that the agency was bankrupt.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan said several lawyers had been engaged for the purpose and the suit would be filed soon.
He said among the persons to be named as defendants were several PKR leaders and the newspaper editorial members.
They included party leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, supreme council member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, Felda bureau chairman Suhaimi Said, International Relations bureau chairman Datuk Dr Tan Kee Keong, Kuala Terengganu Member of Parliament Abdul Wahid Endut, the permit holder of the weekly paper and its chief editor, he told a media conference at the Felda headquarters here today.
Suara Keadilan, in its June 22-26, 2010, issue, had published five articles, including one with the headline "Felda Bangkrap" (Felda Bankrupt) on its front page, claiming that the agency was bankrupt.
Ahmad, who is also Umno Information chief, said the allegations by the newspaper were baseless.
He said Felda had produced 225,270 settlers in 317 land schemes since its inception in 1956 and this success had drawn the envy of the opposition.
He said Felda owned 340,000 hectares of plantation and produced a net profit of RM1.1 billion annually for the past six years.
"Felda also has foreign investments like in Indonesia, China and Saudi Arabia.
"Our financial position is very strong based on our financial ratios and our net assets, totalling RM12.2 billion," he added.
