PORT DICKSON, April 18 (Bernama) — The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) will be giving aid of RM500 each to 320,000 smallholders who are registered with the authority and own smallholdings of not more 2.5 hectares.
Risda chairman Tan Sri Dr Rahim Tamby Chik said the one-off aid would be distributed very soon.
“Risda will be approving an allocation of RM160 million for the purpose at its board meeting tomorrow,” he told reporters after attending the national-level Risda’s Women Movement’s gathering here today.
He added that the aid was to ligthen the burden of the smallholders following a drop in the price of rubber which is now at only RM7 a kilogramme as compared to RM17 a kilogramme at one time.
He added that Risda would be setting up a special committee to distribute the aid.
— BERNAMA
