Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today said rubber smallholders in the country must proactively think of ways to diversify their source of income in the uncertain global economy.
Najib said they should not depend solely on income from tapping rubber in the light of the dropping price of the commodity currently.
"Don't just depend on rubber, we must have income from several sources, it will be tough if we have only one source especially when the price of rubber drops.
"The government itself has channelled RM29 million for a programme to boost the income of smallholders, so endeavour to find additional sources of income to meet family needs," he said.
He said this at a ceremony to hand over the 2016 Risda dividend and the launching of the smallholders death benefits scheme at the Sultan Ahmad Shah Convention Hall here, today.
Also present were Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, his deputy Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub and Risda chairman Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
During the ceremony, he also announced dividends of RM94.5 million to 34,121 Risda smallholders and death benefits totalling RM5.2 million with RM2,000 each being given to smallholders who had died.
The distribution of RM31 million dividend to 16,080 participants of the Cluster New Planting Scheme (RTBB) while RM63.5 million were distributed to 18,041 participants of the Commercial Replanting Schemes (TSK).
This was the second windfall announced by Najib after giving a 2016 Special Aid to Smallholders Due to the Drop in Rubber Prices of RM194 million involving a payment of RM500 each to 388,111 smallholders and tappers which was announced yesterday.
Najib said the government should not be blamed when there was a drop in commodity prices such as rubber and palm oil because it was beyond the government's capability to control.
"There were times, over the last few decades, when rubber prices were sometimes high, and sometimes they tumbled.
"A few years ago, rubber was the darling of the commodity sector and the income of tappers was so lucrative that stories went around that even teachers tapped rubber before entering the classrooms.
"The prices of rubber was at high levels, and when the levels were high, we get more income but if the global economy shrinks, it does not only involve rubber prices but also those of other commodities," he said.
He said the government itself took proactive measures to diversify its source of income and national economy rather than merely depend on revenue from oil and gas because it took into account the current economic scenario.
"As the government, we take certain measures to firm up our income. For example, in 2009, when I just took up the national leadership, 41 percent of national income depended on oil and gas.
"But this year we managed to diversify the national income sources. We only depend 14 percent on oil and gas from 41 percent previously. Imagine, the price of oil has dropped to USD30 a barrel now from USD110 a barrel.
"If this happens, the government will definitely have less income and cannot possibly make the one-off payment like yesterday and other aid like BR1M and other incomes such as civil servant travel allowance have to be reduced or limited if the revenue decreases," he said.
As a government, he said the proactive measures were taken to ensure the welfare of the people and not like the opposition who knew only to talk without any action which were good and beneficial to the people.
At the same time, Najib also reiterated his stand to continue the legacy of his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein to continue championing the welfare of the rural populace including smallholders to boost their dignity.
Bernama
Sat Jun 11 2016
Rubber smallholders should not depend solely on income from tapping rubber in the light of the dropping price of the commodity currently. - AFP Photo/Files
Korban banjir lahar dingin di Indonesia terus meningkat, 35 masih hilang
Angka kematian akibat banjir lahar dingin di wilayah Sumatera Barat di Indonesia telah meningkat kepada 58 orang.
Lelaki ditahan kerana tolak 2 individu ke landasan kereta api di Jepun
Seorang lelaki telah ditahan pada Rabu kerana didakwa menolak dua orang ke landasan kereta api di sebuah stesen di Kawasaki yang berhampiran dengan Tokyo.
Konsortium diteraju Khazanah dan KWSP tiada rancangan berhentikan pekerja MAHB
Kosnosrtium diterajui Khazanah dan KWSP mengesahkan tidak ada sebarang rancangan memberhentikan pekerja susulan langkah menjadikan MAHB syarikat persendirian.
Niaga AWANI: Kadar inflasi di Argentina melonjak hampir 290 peratus
Kadar inflasi tahunan di Argentina meningkat kepada 289.4 peratus harga di negara tersebut meningkat 8.8 peratus pada April.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Rumah bawah RM300 ribu paling banyak dilancar pada suku pertama
Harga kediaman baharu di bawah RM300 ribu catat peningkatan pada suku pertama 2024 apabila merekodkan jumlah paling banyak dilancarkan.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Niaga AWANI: Syarikat gergasi EV dari China lancar model baharu di Mexico
Pengeluar kenderaan jenama BYD dari China berkata, syarikat itu tidak pernah mengintai peluang memperluaskan pasarannya ke Amerika Syarikat. Ia dibuktikan apabila syarikat itu melancarkan Shark, sebuah trak pikap elektrik hibrid bersaiz sederhana, di Mexico.
#NiagaAWANI
#NiagaAWANI
Rusia sasar untuk jadi antara empat ekonomi terbesar dunia - Putin
Matlamat itu ditekankan Putin dalam ucapannya di Perhimpunan Persekutuan Rusia pada Februari 2024.
Waris kru kapal maut di perairan Bangladesh layak terima faedah Perkeso
Hasil semakan mendapati kru kapal MTT Sapangar itu adalah pencarum aktif di bawah Akta Keselamatan Sosial Pekerja 1969 (Akta 4) sejak 2011.
Penyiapan HSR Singapura-KL antara tugas Perdana Menteri baharu Lawrence Wong
Wong dijangka mengutamakan perjanjian dan inisiatif sedia ada serta melonjakkannya ke tahap lebih tinggi seperti pembangunan JS-SEZ.
Jemaah Menteri Malaysia rakam ucapan tahniah kepada Lawrence Wong
Menteri Komunikasi, Fahmi Fadzil, berkata ucapan itu antara intipati mesyuarat Kabinet dipengerusikan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, di Putrajaya pada Rabu.