Malaysia: Cigarette Companies Urged to Help Former Tobacco Farmers

Source from:  BERNAMA (Malaysian National News Agency) (my)  11/05/2012

Cigarette companies which used to reap huge profits from the tobacco growing industry in Kelantan are urged to assist former tobacco farmers in need of aid to repair their homes and clean water supply.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said the tobacco farmers' contribution from planting tobacco for decades should not be forgotten by cigarette companies.
 
"Until now, these companis have made millions in profit yearly and they should come and help them (former tobacco growers)," he said after the handing-over of a house-repair programme for the poor in the Bachok parliamentary constituency, in Kampung Baru Rekang, here, today.
 
Philip Morris (Malaysia) Sdn Berhad and Yayasan Salam Malaysia have allocated over RM160,000 for the programme involving 21 houses and a mosque in the village.
 
Earlier, in his speech, Awang Adek who is also Kelantan Umno liaison deputy chairman and Bachok Umno division chief, said before they stopped growing  tobacco because their produce could not compete with the tobacco coming from neighbouring countries, the farmers in Kelantan were the biggest tobacco growers and contributors in the country.
 
He said since then, their earnings from new crops introduced including sweet potato, maize and kenaf had not been able to match the earnings they used to get  from growing tobacco. Enditem