KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 318,750 rubber smallholders will receive the monsoon season assistance of RM800 each this year, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said they comprised 232,427 rubber smallholders registered with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) and 86,323 others, who are registered under the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS).
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Rural and Regional Development Minister, said applications for the assistance, which involves a total allocation of RM256mil, were open from yesterday until Sept 15.
"The programme reflects the government’s commitment to helping rubber smallholders and rubber tappers in facing financial issues during the monsoon season.
"The government hopes rubber smallholders and tappers will fully benefit from this programme,” he said in a Facebook post today (June 16).
Ahmad Zahid said the aid is provided to rubber smallholders who manage their own plantations, but plantation owners who are members of the Group Replanting Project, are also eligible for the assistance.
He said rubber tappers who depend on tapping rubber as their main source of income and do not own rubber plantations are also included in the list of recipients for the aid.
In addition, individuals registered with Risda and the Smallholders Development System (e-SPeK) are also eligible for this assistance, he said.
The applications and updates can be made at www.pekebunkecilrisda.gov.my.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when tabling the 2023 Budget in February, announced the increase for the aid from RM600 to RM800 with a total allocation of RM256mil. - Bernama
