Budget 2024: Govt allocates RM225 million to cover distribution costs of essential goods

SHAH ALAM - A total of RM225 million has been allocated to cover the distribution costs of essential goods like petrol, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), flour, rice and cooking oil to rural and remote areas under the Community Drumming Programme.

This, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said was an effort to address the cost of living issues initiatied by the late Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub (former Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister) which will be continued and further strengthened.

"The government has allocated RM200 million to continue the implementation of the Payung Rahmah programme," he said when tabling the Malaysia Madani Budget 2024 in Parliament, today.

The Prime Minister said the Rahmah Cash Aid (STR) allocation will increase by RM2 billion or 25 per cent from RM8 billion to RM10 billion.

For STR 2024, he said the first payment will be increased to RM500 and will be disbursed before the month of Ramadan.

He said the government introduced the Basic Rahmah Assistance (SARA) by crediting RM100 per month into the MyKad of 200,000 STR recipients for six months.

"The government has decided to expand the benefits of SARA to 700,000 STR recipients who will receive RM100 per month for 12 months," he said.

Meanwhile, for the upcoming year, Anwar said RM400 million will be allocated for the Food Security Enhancement Programme, with a specific focus on increasing the production of local food crops that were still heavily reliant on external imports.

This, he said included RM150 million for collaboration with state governments to optimise land use for increased crop and livestock yield.

He said it also included RM50 million for implementing a new open tender method for fertiliser procurement to give farmers the choice of the fertilisers they want to use.

"This project will be piloted on 90,000 hectares in areas such as Perak, Selangor, Terengganu and Penang.

"RM50 million (will also be allocated) to supply 50,000 farmers with bio and organic fertilisers to enhance soil fertility," he added.