Rubber tappers victims of inefficiency of board

KOTA KINABALU, August 20, 2011: Despite a recent revamp in the in the management of the Sabah Rubber Industries Board (SRIB), it still failed to safeguard the interest of rubber tappers in Sabah, with the latter continue to face financial hardship.

Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Information Chief, Chong Pit Fah said SAPP had received numerous complaints from the smallholders that the SRIB now was only buying their rubber based on the cash in its pocket.

Once SRIB run out of cash, it would turn down the rubber tappers' produce resulting in them turning to the middlemen who are buying at a much lower price.

"Under the new management SRIB no longer owe the rubber tappers like before but now it is buying the amount of rubber according to the cash on hand. The rubber tappers would not be able to sell their produce once SRIB have no more cash in hand.

"So these rubber small holders from the kampung have nowhere and still have to go to the middlemen to sell at a much lower price. They are forced to do so because they have to make ends meet," he explained.

In a statement issued here today, Chong thus said rubber tappers in Sabah continued to be victims of inefficient management of the SRIB.

Under the previous management, SRIB had to owe rubber tappers and payment was delayed for months leaving the kampung folks in a quandary.

In fact, Chong said rubber smallholders in Sabah were facing a double whammy, since even if they do get the SRIB to buy their produce but it would still be at a lower price as compared to Semenanjung and Sarawak.

"There is something wrong with the present management (of SRIB) and handling of the commodity in Sabah, and it's affecting a great deal of the rural community who depends on it to make their living," he said.

He thus said the stark difference in prices between the three areas in the country showed that the 1Malaysia slogan of the Barisan Nasional (BN) was a mere rhetoric.

"How come in one country there are three different sets of prices for the same commodity?" he asked.

At the end of the day, the people in Sabah remained on the losing end since raw materials from the state were being purchased at a very low price but they have to buy finished products such as tyres for the vehicles, at a much higher price than other states in the country.

Chong reminded that rubber used to be Malaysia's top commodity and revenue earner, which not only responsible for developing the country's economy but also put Malaysia on the world stage when comes to rubber trade, research and cultivation.

"But why now the rubber industry is not being properly taken care of by the State Government? The interest and rights of the people especially the smallholders are not being safeguarded and look after," he charged.

He thus said SAPP wants the State government to seriously review the SRIB terms of reference, which is to assist the people involved in the rubber industry.

"Looking at the present situation, SRIB is actually doing the opposite leaving the rubber tappers continue to face hardship despite their involvement with one of the most lucrative commodities," he said.