The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority in Malaysia will be distributing RM106.8 million in dividend payments to rubber smallholders in the country who are participating in its new group rubber planting and commercial replanting programmes.
“As a government, we never stopped looking for ways to safeguard the wellbeing of the people, especially those in rural areas where smallholders are given the appropriate assistance,” Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
Najib added that the focus on development in rural areas will be continued to ensure a balanced national development that is equal and fair between urban and rural areas, between different ethnic groups, and so on.He said this during his speech at a national-level dividend payment event at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Convention Hall in Pekan.
RISDA will pay the dividends to 33,864 smallholders. Last year, it disbursed RM94.5 million to smallholders.
At the event, Najib, who is also Pekan Member of Parliament, met and mingled with members of the enthusiastic audience to personally hand over their dividend in cash.
Also present were Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Risda chairman Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, among others.