Ahmad Zahid: Smallholders continue to receive monsoon season assistance this year
He said RM264.91 million has been allocated for the initiative, which is expected to benefit more than 330,000 recipients nationwide, including those under the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) and the Sabah Rubber Industry Authority (LIGS).
"This assistance aligns with the Madani Government's commitment to safeguarding the welfare of rural communities. BMT is not just a one-off financial assistance, but a lifeline and a source of livelihood when the rainy season threatens harvest and income.
"This is the true face of the Madani Government that cares for smallholders who are the pulse of the country's industry," he said when speaking at the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) People's Tuition Programme: Excellent Student Appreciation Ceremony here today.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang, Mara chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Risda chairman Manndzri Nasib.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said that the volatility of commodity prices and yearly weather uncertainties continue to exert financial pressure on smallholders, affecting both their yields and incomes.
Therefore, he said, initiatives such as BMT are an important form of intervention in rural development policy, which not only functions as economic support but also as recognition of the hard work of smallholders. — BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Zahid: BN-PH pact for Sabah polls set in stone, others welcome to join
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the coalition's pact with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the upcoming Sabah state election is final, but they remain open to cooperation with other Sabah-based parties or coalitions. Zahid said that while the cooperation between PH and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) is a mutual agreement between the two coalitions, the partnership between BN and PH is now officially confirmed. "We have finalised our collaborative partnership with PH, which means we are now confirmed as partners for the Sabah state election. "As for PH and GRS, that is a mutual agreement between them, which has also been acknowledged," he told reporters during an inspection of final preparations for the 2025 3D Mega Carnival today. Zahid added that the BN-PH alliance remains open to working with other political parties or coalitions in Sabah. "We will continue to keep the door open for cooperation with other parties or coalitions in Sabah," he said. Yesterday, PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh confirmed the PH-BN alliance in Sabah for the upcoming state polls. She also said PKR welcomes cooperation with any party in facing the Sabah state election. This comes after Sabah Chief Minister and GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor reiterated his commitment to work with Sabah PH for the upcoming state election. He attributed this willingness to work with PH to their leaders' support during the attempt to topple the GRS-led state government in 2023. However, Hajiji said that the people of Sabah should vote wisely to ensure GRS, a local-based coalition, dominates the political scene in the state. Meanwhile, Sabah PKR chief Datuk Mustapha Sakmud had said despite PH eyeing over 20 seats, both coalitions would still have to sit down to negotiate on which seats to contest.
Barnama
11 hours ago
- Barnama
Two Million Visitors Expected At Mega 3D Carnival
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- The Mega 3D Carnival (MK3D), to be held from tomorrow until Sunday at Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), is expected to attract around two million visitors. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the carnival is set to drive rural entrepreneurship development through the involvement of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), and the Ministry of Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development (KUSKOP). 'We are targeting transaction values of up to RM209 million, covering cash sales, entrepreneur financing, and potential business matching,' he told reporters after inspecting the final preparations for the carnival today.
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Rising child sex crimes to be tackled with multi-agency strategy, says Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will adopt a coordinated, multi-agency strategy to address the rise in child sexual crimes and other complex social issues, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced today. In a statement following the second 2025 meeting of the National Social Council, Zahid said the government will implement an integrated approach involving the Home Affairs Ministry, the police, the Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to address this issue firmly, comprehensively, and effectively. Zahid cited worrying statistics showing a 53.2 per cent rise in child sexual crimes from 2,541 cases in 2020 to 3,892 in 2024. The number of victims also jumped by 55.7 per cent, from 2,561 to 3,988 in the same period. He said that technological advances have allowed for more sophisticated criminal methods, including deepfake technology and identity theft, necessitating stronger inter-agency coordination and digital awareness strategies. Among the key measures that will be undertaken includes the hosting of a "Child Protection Seminar: Tackling Cyber Threats and Sexual Crimes" scheduled for November, as part of the government's commitment to preventive and educational initiatives. The meeting also reviewed implementation progress for the National Social Policy (DSN) 2030 and its accompanying Action Plan for 2026–2030, which Zahid said will be submitted to the Cabinet in October. Beyond crime prevention, the council also endorsed several long-term reforms, including a taskforce to set up psychiatric nursing homes for homeless individuals with untreated mental health conditions and a special committee to oversee preschool Islamic education nationwide. To address graduate underemployment, Zahid said the MyMAHIR programme, led by the Human Resources Ministry and TalentCorp, had approved 66 industry-led training programmes across high-impact sectors. These include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the green economy, offering starting salaries between RM3,000 and RM6,000 per month. "The implementation of DSN 2030 must be driven in a targeted and high-impact manner, with regular monitoring, measurable impact, and high accountability from all agencies," Zahid concluded.
