BENTONG: Yayasan Pahang's source of income is not fully dependent on logging activities.
Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said forestry resources are becoming scarcer, adding that the foundation stopped relying on the commodity a few years ago.
"Currently, 70 per cent of Yayasan Pahang's income is derived from palm oil cultivation.
"Yayasan Pahang has 32,000 hectares of oil palm plantations that provide sufficient income to support (the foundation in) giving out aid and scholarships for education," he said.
He was speaking to the media after handing out RM200 aid to 1,000 pupils each at a Bantuan Anak Pahang (BAP) programme at Dewan Felda Kemasuk, Pelangai, here today.
Adnan, who is also Pelangai assemblyman, said that through the BAP programme, aid is given out at the beginning of the school term to help disadvantaged parents (of pupils).
He said the foundation also provides RM300 aid to primary school pupils and RM600 aid to secondary school students annually.
He said the foundation also gives RM500 aid to students who continue their studies at public and private institutions of higher learning.
"Therefore, there is no excuse for parents in rural areas to not prioritise their children's education to the highest level as the state government provides various facilities and financial (assistance).
"It proves that the state government cares very much for the education of the young generation, especially students from rural areas so that they can escape from poverty," he said.
Translated from Berita Harian