
IPG benefits 239,053 rubber smallholders, with RM523.4m total payout
The IPG, aimed at ensuring the welfare of rubber smallholders by providing a fair income when rubber prices fall below the activation price level, has been increased to RM3 per kilogramme starting in 2024.
Meanwhile, KPK also reported that 221 tonnes of latex have been successfully produced through the Latex Production Incentive Project (IPL+) as of June 2025.
'This amount is expected to rise with the expansion of the programme to three additional locations — Negeri Sembilan, Pahang and Selangor — currently underway in 2025.
'This initiative is also an initial step toward reducing dependence on imported latex,' KPK posted on the Parliament's website on Monday.
The ministry was responding to Datuk Awang Hashim's (PN-Pendang) question regarding its strategic measures to ensure rubber prices remain stable and do not decline to levels that would negatively impact the income of smallholders.
KPK highlighted that the Malaysian Rubber Board (LGM) is currently constructing three centres for the National Rubber Industry Transformation Program (TARGET), which are expected to be operational by the second quarter of 2026.
The implementation of TARGET aims to increase the income of small rubber farmers by enabling them to be directly involved in the industry supply chain without relying on middlemen.
'It shortens the supply chain and enables smallholders to produce value-added crepe rubber with a Dry Rubber Content (DRC) of around 80 per cent, which provides higher returns.
'If implemented through cooperatives, the profits are also distributed as dividends to members,' the ministry added. — BERNAMA
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
6 hours ago
- The Star
Harn Len posts stronger 4Q, declares special dividend of 3.00 sen
KUALA LUMPUR: Harn Len Corp Bhd remains cautious and is actively formulating strategies to safeguard its business operations. The plantation group said these include enhancing efficiency and implementing cost rationalisation measures to mitigate potential negative impacts. Harn Len noted that the crude palm oil (CPO) price is currently hovering between RM3,900 to RM4,100 per tonne. It said prices fluctuated in June 2025, driven by a surge in global crude oil prices early in the month and the ceasefire in the Israel-Iran conflict. 'Surge of soybean oil prices and high demand from India will help to support the CPO price, where the average CPO price for the year is forecasted to remain above RM4,000 per tonne,' it added. In the fourth quarter ended May 31, Harn Len's net profit surged to RM22.5mil, or earnings per share of 3.68 sen, from RM1.5mil, or 0.27 sen, a year ago. This brought its full-year profit to RM33.4mil, or 5.75 sen. Quarterly revenue rose 39.3% to RM70.9mil from RM50.9mil, lifting full-year revenue to RM283.2mil. Harn Len said the higher operating revenue was mainly driven by increased sales volumes of CPO and palm kernel. The surge in profit was primarily due to a gain from the disposal of an investment property. It has declared a special dividend of 3.00 sen per share for the financial year ended May 31, 2025, payable on July 15 to shareholders on record as at July 1.


The Star
17 hours ago
- The Star
Tax arrears crackdown worries Johor homeowners
MBPG enforcement officers putting up notices before sealing off a premises within the council's jurisdiction. — Filepic Calls for flexibility, clarity as local councils warn errant payees of asset seizure CRACKDOWNS by several local councils in Johor over unpaid assessment tax have left homeowners worried about the transparency and fairness of the process. The sudden move caused panic among property owners, including businessman S. Suresh, 44, who said he received a notice from Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) regarding his arrears. 'I am aware of the arrears of RM3,922.65 which had accumulated from the second term of 2019. 'After hearing about the measures taken by local councils, I paid extra to cover the arrears as well as this year's assessment rate. 'The house is actually my investment property that I rent out. So, I had overlooked paying the assessment rate,' he told StarMetro. He acknowledged that enforcement was necessary but urged local councils to provide better support and flexibility for taxpayers. 'I do not think seizing a person's home is something the council can treat lightly. 'But ultimately it is our responsibility to pay, and it is just a matter of now or later. 'However, local councils should consider offering more time or flexible payment terms based on a homeowner's financial condition,' said Suresh, who has two children. He suggested that the state government and local councils introduce more practical solutions for those struggling to settle arrears. 'Perhaps they can reduce the assessment rates or allow monthly payment options like how Tenaga Nasional Bhd does. 'Paying in smaller instalments would ease the burden, compared to settling the full amount in one lump sum,' he added. While the crackdown is mainly aimed at those with long overdue payments, even those without any arrears have been affected. Forklift driver Md Helmee Jumari, who lives in Taman Scientex, said he received a notice of arrears from MBPG despite never having missed a payment. 'What shocked me even more was that the notice had not been delivered to my house but had instead been found by a neighbour who then handed it to me. 'I have always paid my assessment tax on time. 'So I was surprised to be told that I had arrears,' the 42-year-old said, adding that he had yet to clarify the issue with MBPG. When contacted, Johor housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor confirmed that local councils across the state had begun enforcement operations earlier this year. He said these target residential and commercial premises with long overdue payments. If these arrears are not settled, the council will seize the premises concerned. 'For vacant land, a Form F (warrant) will be issued before the council proceeds to issue a Form H notice to start the auction process. 'If movable assets are present, the council will seize items equivalent in value to the arrears. 'If there are no assets, the property will be auctioned,' he said. Mohd Jafni said proceeds from the auctioned assets would be used to settle the debts. 'If there is a surplus after settling the arrears, the balance will be returned to the property owner. 'The same process applies if a property is auctioned,' he said. He stressed that the enforcement process must comply with Section 148 of the Local Government Act, beginning with the issuance of a Form E notice. Mohd Jafni also pointed out that almost every local council in Johor still issued physical assessment tax bills, with only Johor Baru City Council having adopted a digital billing system. 'I urge those with assessment rate arrears to make their payments promptly, as the tax revenue is channelled back to the public in the form of infrastructure and services such as roads and waste collection,' he added.


BusinessToday
a day ago
- BusinessToday
Median Wage Rises To RM3000 In March As Labour Market Strengthens
Malaysia's formal sector labour market continued its recovery in early 2025, with the median monthly wage reaching RM3,000 in March, a 5.5% increase from RM2,844 in the same month last year. The growth in wages was supported by steady employment gains and government wage policies, including the upward revision of the minimum wage. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), formal sector employment expanded by 3.6% year-on-year in March, with earlier gains of 3.1% in January and 3.4% in February, reflecting consistent momentum across the first quarter of 2025. Of the 6.8 million formal employees, the report showed males accounted for 55.1% (3.7 million), earning a median wage of RM3,000, while females made up 44.9% (3.04 million) with a slightly lower median wage of RM2,982. Wage growth was stronger among women, rising by 6.5%, compared to 3.4% for men, indicating gradual progress in closing the gender wage gap. Wages rose across all age groups, with the most notable increase among employees under 20, whose median wage surged by 13.3% to RM1,700. However, employment numbers declined slightly in the 20–24 age bracket, bucking the positive trend seen in other age groups. DOSM noted that the Mining & Quarrying sector continued to offer the highest remuneration, with a median wage of RM8,800, despite employing just 0.6% of the workforce. This marked a 4.8% year-on-year rise. At the other end of the spectrum, the Agriculture sector recorded the lowest median wage at RM2,200, covering 1.9% of formal employees. Geographically, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur topped the wage scale with a median of RM4,445, followed by Selangor at RM3,300. In contrast, Sabah (RM2,000), Kelantan (RM1,800), and Perlis (RM1,800) had the lowest median monthly wages in the country. While wage levels rose, income distribution remains a point of concern. As of March 2025: 27.4% of formal employees earned below RM2,000, down from 31.2% in March 2024, suggesting modest progress in reducing low-income prevalence. The 10th percentile earned RM1,700 or less, but this marked a 13.3% increase compared to RM1,500 a year ago. The 90th percentile of high-income earners made RM11,000 or more, up 4.8% year-on-year. The upward trend in wages and employment signals a healthier labour market environment, underpinned by robust economic growth and proactive policy measures. Related