NATIONAL LAND FINANCE COOPERATIVE SOCIETY

The economic scenario of the post-independence era that began 1950's due to the fragmentation of rubber estates in the country, created a situation where unemployment and eviction from homes occurred when European-owned rubber estates were sold to locals. The middlemen that bought the fragmented land, further worsened the situation further, when the fragmentation ran into smaller lots.

In an effort to rectify these problems of unemployment and housing, which resulted from fragmentation of estates, the President of Malaysian Indian Congress, spearheaded by the late Tun Dr. V.T. Sambanthan, and some concerned citizens, established the NLFCS to provide roofs over their heads and also employment opportunities from the inspiration mooted by Satyanda Swamiji from India.he suggested to form a cooperative movement immediately to overcome the workers problems as efforts were taken in Fiji island who were sugarcane plantation workers.

Tun Sambanthan conceived the idea of forming the society on 14.5.1960 and since it has become a legend now, standing tall with 28 stories building in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Though the founder was Tun Sambanthan, Tan Sri K.R.Somasundram has played a great role in fulfilling Tun Sambanthan's dream of the society soaring great heights. Tan Sri is responsible for the Tun Sambanthan building and also the leader, in steering the society's sound economic situation.

Plantation workers were persuaded to buy shares in the cooperative at RM 100 per share, payable in monthly instalment of RM 10.Tun Sambanthan made arrangement with government's Attorney General at that time, Tun Mohd Suffian's approval for monthly subsciptions from estate workers from their check-roll.

With this, the society managed to purchase its first rubber estate covering a total of 2900 acres or 1174 ha (Bukit Sidim Estate) in Kedah in 1961 and Rinching Estate in 1962.. From this humble beginning the society manages to buy more estates.

Bukit Sidim Estate,Kedah	2,900 acres
Rinching Estate, Selangor	1,345 acres
Sungei Gumut Estate, Perak	888 acres
Kuala Perak Estate , Perak	3,016 acres
Sungei Sipuit Estate, Perak	2,004 acres
Ulu Ayer Tawar Estate, Perak	835 acres
Sungei Choh Estate, Selangor	3,700 acres
Seremban Estate, NS	2729 acres
Pundut Estate, Perak	1.013 acres
Cairo Estate, NS	550 acres
Ladang Bahru Estate, NS	1,359 acres
Blue Valley Estate, Pahang	508 acres
Sepang Valley Estat, NS	954 acres
Stoughton Estate, Perak	1,126 acres
Belata River Estate, Perak	1,793 acres
Sungei Krudda Estate, Perak	991 acres
Bagan Pasir Estate, Perak	1,215 acres
Soon Lee Estate, Kedah	1,715 acres

Besides, the society also operates a coconut processing in Kuala Perak Estate.

The society has implemented numerous benefit schemes for its members with the main objectives of improvement in their lives.

• improve the education level of its members' children, by giving incentives for the outstanding students and also study loans.
• to house ownership for members by participating in the housing scheme development
• providing business loans to promote small scale entrepreneurs to extend their business
• provide medical benefits for members.
• Monthly pensions for members attaining 73 years.
• Monthly allowances for widows

To the uncertain of economic downturn and unexpected volatility of commodity prices, the society realised it could not solely depend on plantation sector (owning and operating plantations) which is subject to fluctuating commodity prices, the Society moved on to strengthen its base by accelerating into diversification programs as following.

• Property development
• Manufacturing
• Establishing and operating educational institutes
Trading and retail business for both domestic and export markets.
• Health and medical services.

The society's bigger role has been in property development where to-date it has set up two townships, one each in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, and in Rinching ,Selangor and seven housing estates in various parts of the country.

Now the Society is gearing itself for greater challenges and seeking opportunities in the information technology, artificial Intelligence and robotics and developing niche markets in the growing borderless world.

Tan Sri has set up 2 foundations namely, Tan Sri K.R.Soma Arts & Cultural FGoundation and Language & Literary Foundation.

These 2 foundations were set up with a deposit of 10 million each and the interest derived from these are being channelled for the activities of associations related to Arts & Culture and language & Literarture.

Beside this the Language & Literature foundation has been organising literary competition from 1992, whereby local writers are allowed to take part in stories and poems writing. Local book writers also encouraged to write by providing incentives.

Through the Arts and cultural foundation, the stage dramas that were held in the years 1940,50 and 60s, are brought back with the help of local drama troupes and has been staging historical drama annually.

The foundation has staged Beeshmar, Rajendara Chola, Madurai Pandiyan, Pooli Thevan Sanakya Sabatham Rammayana Vaali and Karikaatcholan.