Najib states commitment to help paddy farmers
PEKAN, April 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today expressed his commitment to further empower the agriculture sector, especially paddy cultivation, and raise the living standard of the rural community.
Saying paddy farmers were very close to his heart and the government, he said he always had much concern for their progress and welfare and focused on them when formulating policies and the development agenda.
"Since taking over the helm of the government, I always ensure that the relevant ministers and ministries do not exclude paddy farmers from the development agenda and distribution of the nation's wealth.
"I do not want the nation's wealth to accumulate in the urban centres. At Cabinet meetings, I often ask what other aid can be given to the paddy farmers," he said.
Najib spoke at the handing over of special aid to paddy farmers in Pahang at the field of Sekolah Kebangsaan Merchong Jaya near here. The event was also attended by Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said all the aid and plans to empower the paddy cultivation sector could only be implemented if the country's economy achieved intensive growth annually through excellent management by the BN government.
He said efficient economic management saw the country's economy expand by double the average global economic growth every year.
"This is a record to be proud of, especially when the World Bank anticipated the national economy to achieve a 5.8 per cent growth last year but we attained a growth of 5.9 per cent," he said to the applause of about 1,000 paddy farmers present.
Najib, who is seeking re-election to the Pekan parliamentary seat for the 10th term, pledged that he would announce a special gift for paddy farmers if the people gave the BN the mandate in the general election on May 9.
He had asked the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to list several options to be announced, among them raising the aid for the farmers soon after the BN is declared the victor. "I feel there is no need to campaign because I am confident the farmers know whom to elect, namely the party which takes care of their interest and is capable of fulfilling every pledge made during the election campaign period,? he said.
Najib called on the people to give the BN a huge mandate in the election to enable the nation to make greater achievements over the next five years.
At the event, paddy farmers from five villages in Pekan, Rompin, Kuantan, Maran and Jerantut received special aid of RM200 a month for three months, totalling RM1.4 million.
Some 779 fishermen received the cost-of-living allowance for inshore fishermen and 442 received the fisheries input touch point aid.
The programme organised by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry is an initiative of the government to assist paddy farmers by distributing an allocation of RM150 million as announced by the Prime Minister at the tabling of the 2018 budget in October last year.
-- BERNAMA
