Be fair, give us what you gave Sabah, says Uggah on monsoon season aid

KUCHING: Sarawak wants the federal government to extend the monsoon season aid to eligible rubber smallholders in Sarawak under the new and relaxed conditions, similar to the one given to smallholders in Sabah.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the Sarawak government had no issue with Putrajaya giving the aid to 70,000 rubber smallholders in Sabah, but added that it would only be fair that the same assistance be extended to smallholders in Sarawak under the ruling.

“Based on the relaxed condition, the RM600 aid is now given to each landowner with garden of not more than 6.5 hectares,” he said via a statement yesterday.

Uggah, who is also Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development, said under the previous condition, only smallholders with gardens of less than 2.5 hectares were entitled for the monsoon aid.

“Since more Sabah smallholders are now benefi ing, we feel the same should happen in Sarawak. Some 58,000 (smallholders in Sarawak) have gardens of less than 2.5 hectares. So we want those who qualify under the new conditions to enjoy this aid,” he said, adding that there are 74,000 smallholders registered with the Sarawak Agriculture Department.

The deputy chief minister was responding to a recent announcement by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng that a grant of RM42 million would be provided to 70,000 rubber smallholders in Sabah as monsoon season aid payment.

However, Lim had said the grant would only be applicable to those in Sabah, and not in Sarawak.