KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs to find news ways to harvest latex and switch from scrap rubber (cup lump) production, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said this was because Malaysia imported about 80 per cent of its latex needs at a cost of around RM3 billion.
"Malaysia is the world's largest rubber producer and a glove-producing country, with latex as the primary material. But why do we have to import latex?
"Even though it involves a lot of work and there is a lack of manpower, as most rubber tappers are aged around 60 to 70. We need to find ways to produce (more) latex because, in Malaysia, there are only seven depots for latex production."
He said this on RTM's Selamat Pagi Malaysia programme titled "Post-Budget 2023: Empowering Desa Madani", today.
On ways to facilitate latex production, Zahid said they included strengthening cooperatives and working with non-governmental organisations related to rubber smallholders.
He said this in response to the increased allocation for the Rural and Regional Development Ministry by RM500 million compared with 2022, and how it could benefit target groups, especially rubber tappers.
In Malaysia, cup lumps is the popular method among rubber tappers to harvest rubber than liquid latex, which involves a more complex process.
To produce cup lumps, rubber tappers only need to leave latex to congeal in cups before collecting it after three days.
To preserve latex in its liquid form, it must be collected between four and five after the tree is tapped.– BERNAMA