KUALA LUMPUR: The federal government has increased the ceiling rate for new construction or relocation assistance for fishermen’s houses in Sarawak, Sabah, and Peninsular Malaysia.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the ceiling rate for Sarawak and Sabah has been raised to RM90,000 from RM68,000, while the rate for Peninsular Malaysia has been increased to RM84,000 from RM56,000.
Additionally, Anwar revealed that a total of RM2.78 billion has been allocated as subsidies, assistance, and incentives for paddy farmers and fishermen, an increase from RM2.6 billion.
In the meantime, Anwar said that RM100 million will be allocated to constructing stalls and upgrading public market infrastructure at all local authorities nationwide.
This includes providing business spaces for small traders at Tamu Desa in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as upgrading business facilities under Kuala Lumpur City Commission (DBKL) and MARA.
Anwar also announced that RM65 million will be allocated to develop irrigation and drainage for paddy granaries and expand FELCRA’s paddy estates in Sarawak and Sabah.
The Prime Minister highlighted the Five Seasons in Two Years Paddy Planting Project in MADA Phase One, which involves nearly RM1 billion and covers an area of almost 11,000 hectares.
This project is expected to increase rice yields by 15 per cent and boost the income of 6,100 farmers by 43 per cent.
Anwar further stated that the federal government will begin a pilot project to procure fertilisers, including organic fertilisers, tailored to paddy planting areas through an open tender process.
