Najib: Gov't approved RM200m to assist smallholders, tappers

The government approved an RM200 million allocation for several initiatives specifically for smallholders and rubber tappers, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

He said the rubber smallholdings sector would be given a new lease of life through several measures among them providing modern infrastructure so that tappers can produce latex as compared to cuplumps.

"This allocation also does not include the Monsoon Season Aid (MSA), this is for development of the rubber smallholdings sector and rubber tappers only so that they can earn a higher income,” he said at a “Leaders with the People” and handing over of MSA to smallholders and rubber tappers event at Dataran Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah in Alor Setar today.

Also present were Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah and Plantation and Commodities Industries Minister Mah Siew Keong.

Najib said other steps included introducing a new rubber clone known as Klon 1Malaysia which is capable of producing higher yields as compared to trees planted with normal rubber seeds.

"The focus now is to see if rubber-tapping methods can be modernised with the injection of new technologies which could result in higher rubber output.

“The low-intensity tapping system is a new method which could be introduced to smallholders,” he said.

On the aspect of demand, the prime minister said he had instructed that rubber be used on the surface of certain sections of the road.

He said although the initial cost of building roads containing 15 percent rubber was higher, there were substantial savings in maintenance costs.

“This sector (rubber) still has a bright future, and there is still a demand for rubber. We find that the trunk of the rubber tree is also a resource for furniture production, wood supply, the demand is very high.

"In America, for example, the demand for rubberwood is very high, so the government will continue to develop the rubber sector, including the smallholders," he said.

On relief due to the monsoon season for smallholders and rubber tappers, the prime minister said aid of RM200 per month for three months (Nov, Dec and Jan) would continue to be paid next year.

He said for this year, the payment would be paid from today (Nov 1) directly into the recipient's bank account or on certain conditions in cash.

He said over 500,000 smallholders and rubber tappers nationwide would benefit from the RM300 million worth of assistance, including over 75,000 people in Kedah from an allocation of RM45 million.

Meanwhile, he said the people of Kedah would receive a fund injection of RM1 billion from the central government covering various incentives including the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M).

“If people say that the government is burdening the people with GST, we are actually collecting and returning the benefits back (to the people) which is the best way.

"We need to have sources of income, what is wrong with imposing (tax) on people who are able to pay but try to evade paying tax, what is wrong with making foreign workers pay to give back to the people in the villages, civil servants, imam, bilal and siak.

"If you say prices have gone up, previously without GST too prices went up. Prices do increase, do not simply throw accusations ... these are all the opposition's games. Actually, they are not capable of governing the country like the BN," he said.

- Bernama