Felda Settlers Should Benefit from FGVH listing

I am a little sad that we Malaysians find it so easy to politicise everything we disagree with. If I am a memeber of a cooperative and I have saved every little that I can there and if the cooperative makes money by being well-managed - I expect a good return on my savings too.

Here we have over 112,000 Felda Settlers who have been toiling on land and working their plantations for over 50 years. Years of pure hard work and sacrifice living at unimaginable jungle areas and commitment to their family surely deserves some reward?

CPO prices are at almost RM3,500 per tonne now. Cost of production only at RM 1,400 per tonne. Lets just say overall production capacity is 50,000 per month. That is RM80 million per month in gross profits. As CPO prices have only done so well over the past two years, why not give some of this back to the very settlers who have worked so hard? It is after all money that comes from the profits Felda has accrued over the years and made more by the recent high CPO prices.

This is not our money, not the government's money. It is Felda's money.

Durian runtuh or buah runtuh - it is Felda Settlers' blood sweat and tears, their money. I say ley them enjoy it. For other co-operative members, they get Pink Forms for the FGVH listing. They have an option to buy shares, at cost, if they choose too. Banks will provide loans assistance if they take it up. I doubt banks would want to give each applicant millions, credit checks and guarntors will be required. So what's the issue - we took loans to buy TNB, Petronas Chemicals, Maxis shares when they were listed. We will probably do the same with FGVH IPO. Why cant the Felda Settlers or KPF members do the same to get their pink forms? 

IPOs require Investment Bankers. No different anywhere. Fees are dependent on complexity and size of the IPO. The FGVH IPO is touted to be the biggest this year. It is surely bigger than the MSM IPO. When the FGVH prospectus is revealed, details will be easily available on the fees put aside for listing to all advisers. Lets wait for that before speculating, postulating, rumor-mongering.

My take? we should work for and enjoy our ricebowl and stop casting a jealous eye over other people's fruits.