Ministry calls on rubber smallholders and rubber tappers to apply for monsoon aid (Updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The Plantations Industries and Commodities Ministry has called upon the 152,696 rubber smallholders and rubber tappers in the country to apply for its "monsoon season aid" (BMT) by Jan 31 in order to enjoy an RM200 benefit for three months.
Its minister Datuk Seri Mah Siew Kong (pix) said the BMT amounting to RM261 million was approved during the 2017 budget which allows those who qualify to be paid RM200 per month from November 2017 to this month.
"The Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) and relevant agencies registered rubber smallholders and rubber tappers under their supervision between Sept 1 to 30, last year.
"As of Sept 30, 500,730 of them have been registered under the BMT database.
"From that total, 483,941 of them qualify for the BMT, with 152,696 having not applied yet," he told reporters after officiating the ministry's monthly meeting, here, today.
By applying within the stipulated dateline, Mah assured the group that payments would be credited to them in the next three months after approval.
"Up to yesterday, only 330,972 of them have applied for BMT," he added.
Those seeking to apply can do so via three methods:
>> applying online through the BMT system via the LGM website; http://bmt.lgm.gov.my/Home/Application
>> using the LGM BMT mobile app available for download via Google Play Store
>> applying for BMT at any LGM or Rubber Industry Smallhold­ers Asso­ciation (Risda) offices natiowide

BMT is an aid payment of RM200 for a three-month period, for November, December and January this year to protect the welfare of smallholders and rubber tappers during the monsoon season.
On another matter, Mah said Malaysia was committed to the implementation of the Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme (AETS) with Thailand and Indonesia, effective from Jan 1 to March 31.
"This partnership is to regulate the supply and market demand for rubber and stabilise rubber market prices.
"Based on the AETS scheme, Malaysia is expected to reduce rubber exports by 20,000 metric tons, Indonesia 95,190 metric tons while for Thailand it would be 234,810 metric tons," he said.
He said although rubber production was reduced, rubber tappers will continue to be assisted through the Rubber Production Incentive (IPG) scheme.
He added that rubber exports are expected to reach RM30 billion for 2017 reflecting a significant increase compared to the total exports of RM24.8 billion in 2016.