MACHANG, Jan 27 (Bernama) — More than 35,000 of the 84,410 rubber smallholders in the East Coast have not registered with the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) to obtain the Rubber Transaction Authority Permit (PAT-G) since it was introduced last November.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, said this is partly due to the recent flood disaster.
“Kelantan recorded the highest number with more than 20,000 rubber smallholders not having signed up for the PAT-G,” he told reporters after launching the Aid Programme and Post-Flood Cleanup Activities at the MRB office here Tuesday.
Uggah said the absence of PAT-G documents will make it difficult for smallholders to make a claim under the Rubber Production Incentive Payment (IPG) programme which will be mobilised when the physical price of Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR) grade 20 reaches RM4.60 per kg and the cup lump prices go below RM1.75 per kg.
“The government provides additional assistance for each kilo of rubber sold by smallholders on condition that they submit the sales receipts and PAT-G documents,” he said.
It is one of the government’s initiatives to encourage smallholders to continue tapping rubber even when market prices are low for the commodity.
He said MRB staff will be going down to the field after this to keep track of rubber smallholders who have still not registered with the agency to obtain the PAT-G documents.
At the event, a total of 36 flood-affected staff from various agencies under the ministry received compassionate aid money and other essential items.
— BERNAMA
