KUCHING, August 15: Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) urges the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry to consider giving a cost-of-living allowance to paddy planters in Sarawak.
Its president Munan Laja said this can be similar to what is given to fishermen nationwide, whereby they were given RM200 on a monthly basis to cope with the high cost of living.
“Paddy planters in the Sarawak are mostly those from the longhouses and villages. These groups face a hard life planting paddy their whole life and they have never given up on it. They are in the same category as fisherman and they need government assistance as their income is low. Most hardly have enough to make ends meet,” Munan said in a statement today.
He also lamented that the drastic drop in the prices of agricultural commodities such as pepper, rubber and palm oil was a cause for concern for the agricultural sector in the country, especially the small and medium-scale players.
“The frequency of price drop is very damaging for this group of people. And yet, there seems to be no solution. So we appeal to the minister concerned to consider this allowance.” — DayakDaily
