KUALA LUMPUR, The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK), through the Malaysian Rubber Board, is currently reviewing the need to increase budget allocations for the development of new rubber planting areas—particularly in hardcore poverty regions such as Ranau.
In a written parliamentary response published on the Dewan Rakyat portal today, the ministry stated that several proactive initiatives are already underway. These include identifying suitable land, providing agricultural input support and high-quality rubber seedlings, implementing group-based rubber cultivation programmes, and offering technical training and guidance to participating smallholders.
KPK reaffirmed its commitment to assisting small-scale farmers, especially those in the Ranau district.
“From 2021 to 2024, with the Sabah Rubber Industry Board serving as the implementing agency, a total of 19 planting blocks were established in Ranau, involving 324 participants and covering 1,011.36 hectares. These efforts were supported by a total allocation of RM19.21 million,” the ministry noted.
The reply was in response to a query from Datuk Jonathan Yasin (GRS–Ranau), who raised concerns about the need for additional funding to help smallholders in the district expand cultivation of cocoa, oil palm, and rubber as a strategy to combat extreme poverty.
Regarding the palm oil sector, KPK said the proposal to offer financial assistance for land development and provide targeted subsidies for smallholders is still under review.
As for cocoa, the ministry recognised Ranau as a high-potential cultivation area and one of Malaysia’s key cocoa-producing districts. Among the initiatives currently being implemented by the Malaysian Cocoa Board are the new cocoa planting programme—under which applications for over 500 hectares have been received to date—various ongoing development activities, and the Cocoa Cluster Complex in Ranau, which is expected to be completed this year.
KPK expressed confidence that these integrated efforts would contribute to gradually reducing the rate of extreme poverty in Ranau and other targeted rural areas.
