Smallholders urged to apply for aid

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) is urging the remaining 158,575 smallholders who have yet to apply for the RM600 Monsoon Season Aid to do so now.

“There are 158,575 smallholders in our register who have yet to apply for the RM600 Monsoon Season Aid,” said MRB deputy director-general Dr Suarni Sumormo.

“We urge them to do so now because this cash assistance is meant to help tide smallholders over when they are not able to tap their trees due to the rain and floods,” he said here today.

The government has allocated RM261 million for the purpose.

Since the fund was initiated in November, Suarni said it had benefitted 325,366 small farmers and rubber tappers.

Applications are open from September 1 until January 31.

Suarni urged small farmers and rubber tappers who have not applied for the cash assistance to do so by January 31, 2018.

They can do so via online application at bmt.lgm.gov.my; via the MRB Monsoon Season Aid mobile app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store; and manually submit the Monsoon Season Aid form at MRB district or state offices.

Suarni said the low global rubber price was a huge concern among rubber tappers throughout Southeast Asia.

In December, the governments of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia pledged to withhold 350,000 tonnes of natural rubber exports until March this year.

“Malaysia’s commitment is to reduce rubber exports by 20,000 tonnes until March. Following this move, we foresee the Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR 20) pricing rising as high as RM6.50 per kg from the current RM5.80,” he said.