GUA MUSANG: More than 16,000 small-scale rubber tappers and oil palm plantation smallholders have registered for the RM200 monthly cash assistance under the Budi Agri-Komoditi programme as of Aug 13.
Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the figure was not overwhelming compared to their total number, which is about 300,000 in the peninsula.
He said the rest of the rubber tappers and oil palm plantation smallholders could not register their names for assistance due to several reasons, which include not having internet coverage in their areas, no computer equipment and no knowledge of how to use the internet.
"Today, l go to the ground to areas where we (the ministry) received information that many smallholders involved in rubber and oil palm industries were affected by the targetted diesel subsidy implemented by the government.
"It is not about money but the problem is that many of them do not know how to register to enable them to get the RM200 monthly assistance.
"We estimate that there are about 300,000 of them in the peninsula but so far, only about 16,000 registered.
"Among their problems were having no computer and internet coverage in their vicinities," he said.
Johari said this to reporters at Budi Agro Komoditi programme at Taman Agropolitan Rantau Manis here today.
He said the government only set a few conditions for them to apply for the aid.
For instance, he said the oil palm areas must not be more than 4.5 ha and it must be operated by individuals and not commercial companies.
To encourage more rubber tappers and small-scale oil palm planters to register, he said all agencies under the ministry have been instructed to assist this group.
"The agencies such as the Malaysian Rubber Board and the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board will be assisting these groups.
"Apart from that, the ministry will continue with this kind of programme from time to time to help the affected groups in getting the cash assistance of RM2,400 a year," he added.
Earlier in his speech, Johari said the registration by the ministry's agencies would be handed over to the Finance Ministry as soon as possible.
"The affected rubber tappers and small-scale oil palm planters can also go to the agency's offices directly to register for the aid," he added.