SHAH ALAM, 17 Apr: Umno’s practice of requiring political support as criteria to qualify a person to receive land previously cultivated by FELCRA has been slammed by the Selangor Chairman of the Select Committee to Eradicate Poverty, Saari SUngib (PAS-Hulu Klang).

He said that the practice has left the poor who are qualified to be marginalised from receiving government assistance.

“I condemn this Umno practice because the distribution is on a policy to receive political incentive, be it electoral votes or political support within the party, at the branch or division level.

“This is not a transparent manner because it does not meet the real goal of helping the poor,” he said when met by Selangor Kini at the Selangor State Assembly (DNS) lobby yesterday.

Saari said that the State Government will be adopting transparent and fair practices, regardless of political ideology, if the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Government’s effort to claim dividend from the land cultivates by FELCRA in Selangor is successful.

“I recommend for the State Government to distribute to those who qualify and meet criteria like the poor and local residents, without considering Umno’s practices.

“We do not care which party they support. If there is a suggestion from local political leaders, wither from Umno or otherwise, in the end what determines it is the eligibility criteria of applicants,” he said.