Kuala lumpur: The government, through the Property and Crop Damage Compensation Assistance Initiative, has disbursed RM1.7 million in compensation to farmers impacted by wildlife attacks by last September, as conveyed in the Dewan Rakyat today. Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who is also the Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to enable humans and wild animals to coexist.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the government has allocated RM52 million under the 13th Malaysia Plan to install electric fences to safeguard oil palm, rubber, and other plantation areas from wildlife, particularly elephants. This initiative was discussed during a question-and-answer session, addressing compensation for farmers and livestock breeders in the Gerik parliamentary constituency whose assets have been affected by wildlife intrusions.
In another development, the Malaysian Higher Education Plan (PPTM) 2025-2035 has been outlined to navigate the anticipated job market transition, during which an estimated 250,000 positions might be frozen. Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapha Sakmud emphasized the importance of aligning graduates' skills with industry requirements to enhance employability. He noted that this transition is partly responsible for the decline in skilled employment rates, which have fallen to 35.7% from 37.3% in 2022 among Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates.
Furthermore, the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) is reviewing its strategic asset allocation framework to bolster the sustainability of its investment portfolio. Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin explained that the Ministry of Finance is scrutinizing this framework for final approval before implementing it through 'Project EARTH'. The project aims to reduce loan amounts of subsidiaries like Boustead Plantation to enhance investment performance. Boustead Holdings Berhad, Pharma Niaga Berhad, and Boustead Plantation Berhad are currently undergoing operational strengthening as part of their recovery process under this plan. This response was given to Datuk Khlir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh) concerning strategic measures to ensure LTAT achieves dividend payouts comparable to those in previous esteemed years.