MELAKA (Oct 29): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has announced Felcra Bhd’s second interim distributable profit for 2026, amounting to RM190.6 million.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister, said the amount represented an increase of RM63.7 million, or 50.2%, compared with the RM126.9 million distributed to participants under the first interim profit distribution in July.

“The distribution, covering the period from May to August 2026, will benefit nearly 72,000 participants across 734 projects nationwide, with payments to eligible participants to be made in stages beginning today,” he said.

He announced this at the profit distribution declaration ceremony in Ayer Keroh here on Thursday.

Also present were Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang and Felcra chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

On the welfare of B40 participants involved in replanting programmes, Ahmad Zahid said he wanted Felcra to provide special assistance during the period before the new crops begin yielding returns, particularly ahead of Aidilfitri.

He also directed Felcra to ensure that participants’ land continued to generate good returns amid changing market conditions.

“Commodity prices and weather conditions may be beyond our control, but plantation productivity, operating costs and management standards are responsibilities that must be handled efficiently and with discipline.

“Cost savings must come from reducing wastage and practising prudent procurement. For projects that continue to yield low returns, I want Felcra to identify the causes and develop improvement plans with clear targets,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said participants should also be given clear and easily understood explanations of their projects’ performance, including production yields, management costs and how profit distributions are calculated.

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