Rise in Rubber and Rubber-based Exports Proof of Sector's Continuing Growth - Minister

SHAH ALAM (Selangor), Sept 20 (Bernama) – The rise in the value of exports of rubber and rubber-based products of RM5.3 billion or 38.5 per cent for the first seven months of the year is proof of the sector’s continued growth in the future. Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Mah Siew Keong also said RM19.1 billion in export value of rubber and rubber-based products was recorded for the seven months compared to RM13.8 billion for the corresponding period of 2016. He said public perception that the rubber industry was not important needs to be changed as the commodity is now capable of generating high value products for various sectors, including building engineering or bridges. “Without us realising it, Malaysia has the among best technology and expertise in the rubber industry in the world, with our products being the choice of of other countries due to its high quality. “As such, the government strongly encourages industry players to cooperate with universities to continue with research and develop more innovations to further enhance the country’s rubber industry,” he told reporters here Tuesday. Mah added that the increase in total natural rubber exports of 682,131 metric tonnes for the first seven months of 2017 compared to 568,279 metric tonnes for the same period of last year, also showed that the sector was not stagnant, but rather, improving and receiving the attention of the world due to its importance in a particular area. Earlier, he witnessed the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and Doshin Rubber Products (M) Sdn Bhd. UiTM was represented by its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry, Community and Alumni Network) Prof Dr Zaini Abdullah and Doshin Rubber Products by its director, Or Tan Teng The MoU is the result of a large scale strategic research partnership in place from 2013 and aimed at improving infrastructure as well as Malaysia’s safety in the field of earthquake engineering and dynamic structures. Meanwhile, Mah reminded rubber tappers and smallholders who had yet to register for the Rubber Authority Transaction Permit Cards (PAT-G) under the supervision of the Malaysian Rubber Board to do so before Sept 30, to be eligible for the Rainy Season Assistance (BMT). “We are looking at 440,000 tappers and rubber smallholders applying for the BMT, but to date, only 171,196 from this group have registered and applied with 81,196 having done so online from Sept 1 when applications opened. “We hope more of the rubber tappers and smallholders will quickly apply to receive the BMT,” he said. The BMT is a RM261 million financial assistance extended by the Federal Government to the affected groups to ensure their well-being during the rain season. From this sum, RM200 monthly is extended for three months from November to January 2018. -- BERNAMA