KOTA KINABALU: Rubber smallholders, padi farmers and fishermen nationwide will get the Federal Government's Hari Raya Aidilfitri special financial assistance from April 17.
The assistance will be channelled through the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda).
Some 850,000 recipients are expected to benefit from the government, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister.
He said RM63.75mil was allocated for 318,642 small rubber farmers nationwide under Risda.
Ahmad Zahid said the assistance was for small rubber farmers with farms below the size of 2.5ha to ease their financial burden during Hari Raya.
The recipients were mainly those registered for the monsoon season assistance last year, he said, adding that it would be credited directly into their bank accounts. Applicants could check the status of payment via bmt.risda.gov.my.
Ahmad Zahid said this when attending the breaking of fast programme with 1,500 orphans, tahfiz students, the asnaf and local community in Kg Benoni Mosque, Papar, about 20km from here Saturday (April 8).
He also presented Hari Raya cash aid from the Community Development Department (Kemas), Felcar, and Sabah Rubber Industry Board to 129 tahfiz students and orphans amounting to RM25,800.
