SONG: A total of RM41.2 million was allocated by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KLLW) to RISDA Sarawak for the Rubber Re-planting Programme and other programmes.
Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said out of the total allocation, a total of 13,182 small holders benefited from the 1,802 hectares and 23,843 hectares Rubber Re-planting Programmes.
Of the total, Sibu Division RISDA Office, responsible for the Sibu, Kapit and Mukah areas received an allocation of RM11.08 million for the current Rubber Re-planting Programme with a total area of 754 hectares involving 335 participants and extended Rubber Re-planting Programme covering 4,367 hectares involving 1,365 participants.
“Meanwhile, the Rubber Re-planting Programme for the Kapit parliamentary constituency is 1,038 hectares with 539 participants and for the Song district its is 194 hectares involving 94 participants,” Nanta said at a ceremony to appreciate RISDA small holders for the Sibu area held at Rumah Cecelia Bunsu Nanga Kebiau near Song last Saturday.
Nanta said the available replanting area is expected to continue grow as there are potential areas of 700 hectares that have been identified and applications have also been received from rubber small holders.
“This year RISDA Sarawak has allocated RM1.2 million for AET and entrepreneurship to small holders where RISDA Sibu has received an allocation of RM300,000.
“Through this programme, a total of 47 entrepreneurs from RISDA Sibu have been created where nine of them are from the Kapit parliamentary constituency,” he explained.
He added that RISDA also supports programmes for human capital development such as the People’s Tutoring Programme and Women Smallholders Group (PWPK).
“The society’s tuition programme is an additional class programme offered free to the rural children of smallholders in five core subjects of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) namely Mathematics, Bahasa Malaysia, English, Science and History.
“This year RISDA Sarawak received an allocation of RM275,000 to implement the tuition programme to 22 schools including seven schools in Kapit,” he said.
Nanta added that for the Smallholder Women’s Association (PWPK) programme, RISDA Sarawak has allocated RM18,000 for 15 PWPK activities with 330 members.
“This is proof that the government cares for the people, always fighting and defending the fate of the rural people, especially smallholders.
“It is RISDA’s hope to have smallholders take the opportunities provided by the government through various RISDA programmes and give their full commitment in pursuing any activity organised by the government,” said Nanta.
During the ceremony, Nanta also announced an allocation of RM20,000 to replace the longhouse water pipes and a RM5,000 for the longhouse women’s bureau.
Also present were Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, Tapah Ata, Director of RISDA Sarawak, Zulkefli Zaini, Kapit Deputy Resident, Galong Luang, Song District Officer, Jackline August, Deputy Director of RISDA Sarawak, Abdul Aziz Awang and RISDA Sibu Officer, Khairul Hisham Ismail.
