202,717 smallholders, rubber tappers to receive RISDA monsoon season aid today

KUALA LUMPUR: An amount of RM300 per person will be credited today into the accounts of 202,717 people, comprising 85 per cent of smallholders and rubber tappers registered with the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda), who had applied for the Monsoon Season Aid (BMT) 2020.

Risda chairman Datuk Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif said the aid, worth RM600 per person for a total of 237,207 recipients, would be credited to their accounts in two stages, with the balance RM300 to be banked in in January.

He said the first RM300 aid for the remaining 34,490 recipients would be channelled to them next week.

"Smallholders and rubber tappers registered with Risda with land ownership not exceeding 2.5 hectares are eligible for the aid.

"Application for this aid is open until Dec 31," he told a press conference at the Parliament building here today.

Mohd Salim, who is also Jempol Member of Parliament, said the largest number of recipients were from Sarawak (58,048 people), followed by Kelantan (49,328) and Kedah (45,297).

He has also asked Risda officials at the district level to ensure that all eligible smallholders and rubber tappers are not left out from receiving the aid.

"The distribution of BMT 2020 is one of the government's efforts and initiatives to ease the burden of smallholders who suffer a drop in productivity due to the monsoon season.

"The aid has also benefited thousands of smallholders and rubber tappers from low-income households who are affected when they lose their sources of income due to the monsoon season,” he said.

-- BERNAMA