Budi Madani Diesel Subsidy Provides Financial Relief To Kedah Smallholders

ALOR SETAR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Smallholders cultivating fruits and vegetables in Kedah are grateful for the benefits provided under the MADANI Subsidy Assistance, or BUDI MADANI, which began yesterday.

Mazlan Bakar, 58, from Alor Setar, who cultivates durian and Harumanis mangoes, uses a one-tonne lorry to transport the produce from his farm in Yan district.

“When it's the harvest season, if the quantity of fruit is small, I usually use a four-wheel drive vehicle. However, if the quantity is large, I use a lorry because it has a larger capacity compared with a four-wheel drive.

“Using a lorry means needing to fill it with diesel. Sometimes I make more than six trips a day. With BUDI MADANI, at least it helps to cover the costs for transporting this produce," he told Bernama today.

Meanwhile, Tan Ah Seng, 45, from Simpang Empat, said he grows vegetables including cucumbers, red chillies and carrots, and uses a one-tonne lorry to transport his produce to wholesalers and buyers around Alor Setar.

“I only have a car and a lorry as alternative vehicles, so to transport my produce, I definitely use the lorry, because it’s easier to carry all the produce at once. Sometimes, the income from sales isn't much, yet a lot of money is spent on diesel.

“If I can get RM200 a month in government assistance, it will definitely help cover costs for small-scale farmers like me. In Kedah, there are many who are engaged in farming and own diesel vehicles, which fall under the B40 category,” he said.

Muhammad Saiful Bahari Ahmad, 56, from Pokok Sena, who owns a private diesel vehicle used for his nursery, which sells various types of plants, including flowering plants, said that the subsidy shows the government's concern for those truly in need of assistance.

“With this targeted subsidy assistance, irresponsible parties can no longer take advantage, and the aid will reach the intended recipients. So, for those who feel they are eligible for this assistance, don't miss out on the opportunity provided by the government,” he said.

On May 27, the Ministry of Finance announced, in a statement, that private diesel vehicle owners, smallholders and small-scale commodity growers, from the B40 and M40 groups in Peninsular Malaysia, are eligible to apply for government cash contributions through the MADANI Subsidy Assistance (BUDI MADANI), starting from May 28.

It said that individual private diesel vehicle owners meeting specific eligibility criteria can apply under the individual category, while smallholders can apply under the Agri-Commodity category. Eligible applicants will receive RM200 per month.

-- BERNAMA