RUBBER tappers in rural Kelantan said they won’t be able to support their families if financial aid, which they enjoyed during the Barisan Nasional administration, is halted, as low rubber prices make it harder for them to meet the rising cost of living.

Hamzah Abdul Rahman, 72, said he was unsure if the new Pakatan Harapan government will continue aid, such as RM200 a month, for rubber tappers during the rainy season from November to January.

“We don’t know if this will be discontinued. We are worried that there will be no assistance like before,” said Hamzah, referring to the Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration from 1981-2003.

“People used to get aid in the Najib Razak administration, unlike Dr Mahathir’s time. I received a lot aid during the Najib years,” said Hamzah from Gua Musang.

Hamzah was referring to the monsoon aid announced by Najib in the 2017 Budget. The aid covered smallholders and rubber tappers during the monsoon seasons when they were unable to work.

The RM261 million aid was targeted at 500,000 smallholders and rubber tappers. This was on top of the BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Aid) payments from 2012 to help lower-income groups.

Hamzah said his neighbours heard rumours that BR1M would be discontinued, repeating a narrative that Umno leaders have used against the Pakatan Harapan administration.

While PH has yet to announce whether to discontinue BR1M, the new government has already renamed it the cost-of-living aid.

After taking over the federal government in the 14th general election, PH said it would undertake cost-cutting measures to pare down the country’s RM1 trillion debt allegedly caused by the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

Last week, Dr Mahathir reminded Malaysians to prepare to sacrifice because the new government would not dish out cash aids during Budget 2019.

According to Dr Mahathir, Najib dished out the aid in exchange for support and votes so that he could remain in power.

Another rubber tapper, Abdullah Yunus, said his earnings are even less as he has to split his takings with the estate owner.

The 48-year-old has only worked a few days this month because of the rainy season.

According to Abdullah, the price of rubber was only RM2.20 per kg compared with RM8 six years ago.

The steep drop in prices – bringing the selling price to below manufacturing cost – has been blamed on the unpredictable weather, leading to an income of only between RM450 and RM600 a month.

The National Association of Smallholders Malaysia has asked the government to set RM4 per kg as the minimum price for rubber as the current cost of production is RM3.20 per kg.

Abdullah said his earnings from tapping rubber might be enough to survive in the kampung but not to cover the cost of sending his children to school.

His hope is that in Budget 2019, the new government would not slash cash aids for schooling and other forms of assistance to the poor.

Another rubber tapper Siti Fatimah Mohamad said even an extra RM100- RM200 a month would go a long way, especially to pay for their children’s school supplies.

“I hope the government would continue (the aid). Don’t revert to before,” she said.

“RM200 a month, of course it isn’t enough, but for kampung people like us, it’s good enough to continue living.”

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng will table next year’s budget on Friday. – October 31, 2018.