By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 5: A total of 95,883 smallholders in Sarawak have been identified as eligible to receive RM400 monthly under the BUDI Agri-Komoditi cash aid, says Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.
She said 35,676 smallholders, or 37.2 per cent of those identified as eligible, had been approved for the assistance as of September 2026.
Noraini said this in her written reply to a Parliamentary oral question from Betong MP Dato Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri today.
She said the BUDI Agri-Komoditi cash aid was introduced as part of the Government’s targeted diesel subsidy rationalisation, with eligible smallholders in Sabah and Sarawak beginning to receive RM400 monthly from June 22.
“For Sarawak, as of September 2026, a total of 95,883 smallholders have been identified as eligible to receive the assistance.
“Of this number, 35,676 smallholders, or 37.2 per cent, have had their BUDI Agri-Komoditi applications approved,” she said.
The eligible smallholders comprise 37,631 from the oil palm sector, 19,644 from rubber, 555 from cocoa and 38,053 from pepper.
Of these, 17,479 oil palm smallholders, 7,310 rubber smallholders, 232 cocoa smallholders and 10,655 pepper smallholders had been approved.
Noraini said the ministry was aware that many eligible smallholders had yet to submit their applications despite various efforts by the Government.
She said the ministry had activated operation rooms and provided hotlines through its agencies to coordinate information and enquiries on the BUDI Agri-Komoditi initiative.
“Each enquiry will be channelled to the relevant agency according to the respective subsector for further action and feedback,” she said.
She added that the ministry would continue conducting regular BUDI Agri-Komoditi outreach sessions, including briefings and registration counters, to assist smallholders with their applications in person.
Noraini said KPK had also expanded the role of its agency branch offices in Sabah and Sarawak, while involving TUNAS (Tunjuk Ajar dan Nasihat Sawit) officers and field officers to disseminate information and assist with applications.
She added that discussions had been held at officer level with representatives from the Ministry of Finance to identify suitable implementation mechanisms through KPK’s agency network in Sabah and Sarawak. — DayakDaily
