A rally will be organised on April 5 in solidarity with rubber tappers who have been badly affected by the dwindling rubber prices, PAS Youth announced today.

PAS Youth chief Suhaizan Kaiat said in a press conference at the party headquarters that Kedah PAS will be organising the rally, which is scheduled to take place in Baling on the evening of April 5.

The rally will be part of a concerted campaign to get the government to listen to the grouses of rubber tappers, especially those who do not own the land on which they work.

Rubber tappers in Sik, Padang Terap, and Baling - all in Kedah - had already organised their own respective peaceful rallies against the state of rubber prices.

Rubber prices currently stand at RM2.50 per kilogram, as opposed to RM3 per kilogram just in January this year.

"Those who do not own their own lands are getting paid about RM400 to RM500 a month. That is already below the poverty level," Suhaizan ( left ) said.

He asked the government to immediately implement a subsidy programme in order to subsidise the rubber prices to ensure tappers are not affected by the volatile rubber market.

"Rubber tappers want a set price of RM4 per kilogram. We hope the government can subsidise partially to ensure this price is met, and in the meantime, the government can come up with a more holistic solution as to how rubber tappers' livelihoods can be improved," he said.

Suhaizan also said the PAS Youth movement would start establishing a front that would bring out the grouses of villagers who are involved in any form of farming or fishing and their livelihoods.

"Everyone from these sectors will be included, but we will focus on rubber now because that is the current issue," he noted.