PETALING JAYA: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry will meet with Cameron Highlands farmers who have raised concerns about the diesel subsidy rationalisation programme.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the government has taken note of the farmers’ apprehensions and has brought the matter to the attention of the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry for further action and recommendations.

“It is important for us to be open to any appeals, including from them. They are stakeholders under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.

“We hope a meeting will be convened immediately to gather additional information and understand their need for further assistance,” he told reporters after an engagement session with petrol station operators in Kelantan on Friday (June 7).

Earlier, Cameron Highlands Chinese Farmers Association deputy president Cheng Nan Hong revealed that they had a meeting with the authorities in April over the diesel subsidy.

“They told us that small farmers who have not registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia will not receive the subsidy,” he said.

Cheng highlighted that around 20% to 30% of the more than 2,500 farmers in Cameron Highlands are small-scale farmers without registered companies.

He said if a farmer earns less than RM300,000, one of the criteria for the fuel subsidy, but does not have a registered company, then they will not receive the subsidy.

“They are independent farmers with small plots of land, growing their own crops to be sold to earn a living,” he told a news portal.

According to Cheng, their association currently has about 400 active members.