3,925 padi farmers in Kota Belud receive special assistance

KOTA BELUD: A total of 3,925 padi farmers in Kota Belud parliamentary constituency yeterday received the padi farmer assistance of RM200 per month to ease their burden while waiting for the harvest season.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the assistance was a new approach by the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to assist the people in the country.

“Previously the assistance was given to fishermen and not to padi farmers...but when we brought up the issue at Cabinet level that Sabah and Sarawak have many padi farmers, the Prime Minister agreed to set up this direct aid.

“Direct assistance like this would benefit the recipients... and it would lighten the burden of the people,” he said at a Padi Farmer Special Assistance presentation here yesterday.

The RM200 a month assistance was announced by Prime Minister when tabling budget 2018 to assist padi farmers while waiting to harvest the crop.

Salleh said the people should be grateful and support the efforts implemented by the government to assist the people.

“The government led by Barisan Nasional (BN) was able to do so because the country’s finance was managed well and the prime minister had taken several new initiatives in which apart from providing subsidy to the people... he also gave direct aid to the people,” he added.

He said apart from padi farmer aid, the government also introduced direct assistance such as the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M).

In this regard, Salleh who is also Umno treasurer and BN candidate for Kota Belud called on the people to appreciate all the efforts of the government.

“So, as the citizen, we have the right and responsibility to cast our votes on May 9. The people should be responsible to ensure stability and harmony in the country... so vote BN which has greatly assisted the people,” he said.

Earlier, Salleh who is also Kota Belud Umno division head visited the Rampayan Ulu and Pandasan polling centres. – Bernama