The government has agreed to the setting up of the Rural Development Council aimed at coordinating rural development and assistance to the rural people, Rural and Regional Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said.

He said the cabinet approved the formation of the council to ensure assistance by various agencies were coordinated and given out without resulting in any wastage.

"I tabled the matter to the cabinet. There is a need to coordinate actions involving the various federal agencies," he told reporters after opening a briefing organised by Risda in Semporna today.

He said the council would be chaired by BN members of parliament in their respective areas and consisted of BN assemblymen, community leaders and government agencies, with the district office serving as the secretariat.

He said the council would only act as a coordinator and not taking over the roles of existing agencies.

Meanwhile, Mohd Shafie said the ministry, through Risda, had approved RM14.2 million allocation for the rubber replanting scheme in Sabah this year, involving 2,200 hectares, each allocated with RM14,000.

"We have identified 1,600 hectares so far. This is one of the steps taken to help increase the income of Malaysians, especially those in the rural areas," he said.

Shafie said that apart from financial, other assistance were in the form of fertilisers and training for rubber smallholders.

Risda deputy director-general Ali Nordin Wahiduddin said the 2,200-hectare area targeted for replanting this year was a major increase from 800 hectares last year.

Risda was also striving to improve the delivery of assistance to smallholders, including providing high quality rubber saplings, he said.

- Bernama