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Malaysia's PM Najib offers aid to palm oil farmers ahead of election

Malaysia

Malaysia's PM Najib offers aid to palm oil farmers ahead of election

Reuters Published on Thu, Aug 17, 2017 / 1:23 PM GMT+8

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(Aug 17): Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak gave cash handouts and offered debt waivers on Sunday to palm oil farmers, a key voter base for the scandal-hit leader who is preparing to seek re-election.

Addressing tens of thousands of farmers and small landowners in the administrative capital Putrajaya, south of Kuala Lumpur, Mr Najib said 94,956 eligible families will be given RM5,000 ($1,590) each - costing the government RM475 million.

Additional funds amounting to over RM950 million would be used to erase the debts of the farmers who are all linked to state plantation company Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), and are often called Felda settlers.