Dividend payout is evidence that Risda projects face no problems - Ismail Sabri

The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) has never intended to stop the Cluster New Planting Scheme (RTBB) and the Commercial Replanting Scheme (TSK) as has been hyped by the opposition, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the dividend payouts each year was clear evidence showing that all projects managed by Risda never stopped or experienced any problems.

"It (the opposition's claims) is very ridiculous. They just fabricate slander and concoct stories wanting to prove that the government has no money, while the government is committed to implement all the plans that are in the pipeline.

"Even this year Risda allocated RM358.8 million for development programmes involving the empowerment of replanting programmes, increasing the income of smallholders and intensifying downstream activities of Risda subsidiaries," he said.

He said this at a press conference after Risda's national-level dividend presentation for 2017 at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Convention Hall near here Saturday which was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

-- BERNAMA