PADANG TERAP: The Rural Development Ministry and the Industry, Plantation and Commodities Ministry have tabled plans for discussions to accommodate the rubber industry after the recent dip in scrap rubber prices.

Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said talks were underway to protect the sustainability of rubber tappers in this country who were affected by the current drop in rubber prices.

He said the matter was expected to be discussed with the Ministry of Finance next week.

"When these three ministries have an understanding, we will present the proposal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to achieve the approval as soon as possible.  

"This matter involves the communities in villages and the government needs to provide assistance for them," he said during a press conference after opening the "Mesra Pengguna" Program at Kampung Padang Nyior, Padang Terap, here today.

Last Monday, Mahdzir informed that there are two recommendations that will be presented to the PM to ensure the sustainability of the livelihood for scrap rubber tappers.

The first recommendation is to extend the monsoon season assistance period from just three months to six months while the second recommendation is to increase the floor price of scrap rubber from the current value of RM2.50 to RM3. Currently, rubber tappers are selling scrap rubber for prices between RM2.30 to RM2.40.

Meanwhile, Mahdzir said he had received a request from farmers from the Rubber Industry Smallholder Development Authority (Risda) who demand to switch rubber crops to palm oil crops following the drop in prices for scrap rubber and increase in prices for palm oil.

"They want to change their crops during the implementation of the replanting project but this matter involves policy. To ensure the sustainability of rubber commodity crops, Risda aims to achieve an area of 25,000 hectares per year to maintain the country's rubber plantation area at a rate of 1.09 million hectares.

"The application to do so is indeed there, but on how many individuals made the application? I don't have the numbers now," he added.