PUTRAJAYA: A proposal to increase and expand diesel subsidies for those in the agriculture sector, including padi farmers, crop farmers and fishermen, will be brought to the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (April 1) for further consideration and a decision. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said the proposal was discussed at the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) meeting on Tuesday (March 31) morning as an immediate measure to ease operational cost pressures in the country’s food production sector. He said among the proposed measures were to expand diesel subsidies through the fleet card system to more players in the agriculture sector, as well as to review the possibility of increasing the existing subsidy rate. Mohamad said the move was crucial as the agriculture and fisheries sectors were facing rising input costs, including fuel, fertiliser and logistics costs, following global developments. He added that grain corn pilot projects in Cuping, Perlis and Kota Belud, Sabah, had shown positive results, and Mohamad was expected to launch a large-scale national grain corn planting programme in Cuping this June.

Source: The Star March 31, 2026 13:44 UTC