Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Brighter times ahead for disabled vegetable seller

What say you on the issue below?
Something to smile about: Najib observing Abdul Rahman checking out his three-wheel motorcycle during the launch of the Agrobazaar Kedai Rakyat' at Kampung Ruat in Yan, Kedah.

FOR three years, vegetable seller Abdul Rahman Said who was born with no legs used a 10-year-old motorcycle modified with a side carriage and handgear to collect and sell his vegetables in a nearby market in Jitra.

The whole time, he was earning a mere RM600 a month.

However, his income started to double about six months ago after joining the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama)’s three-wheeled motorcycle scheme.

“Now, I am able to sell fruits and vegetables at any of Fama’s Agrobazaar Kedai Rakyat, farmers’ market and fresh fruit stalls, as well as directly to customers in the market.

“Under the scheme, I obtained a RM3,000 interest-free loan for 30 months from Fama and topped up with a RM3,500 loan to get a new three-wheeled motorcycle with a side carriage,” he said.

He was speaking after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak presented him the keys to his new motorcycle when opening the Kampung Ruat Agrobazaar Kedai Rakyat in Yan, Kedah, yesterday.

Najib also presented a RM200,000 cheque for Mousang King (D197) durian saplings to be planted by the villagers.

Abdul Rahman who won gold and silver medals in the wheelchair-racing competition at the Malaysian Paralympics Games in 1994 and 1998 respectively, is married to Zaleha Mohamed, 35, who is missing a limb.

He said they met during a course organised by Puteri Umno in Pangkor in 2004 and married a year later, adding that they have two children Nur Amalin Wahida, five, and Mohamed Adam, two.

“I opened my own Agrobazaar Kedai Rakyat shop in Batu 17, Jitra, a year ago using a RM50,000 loan from Tekun Nasional and a RM20,000 loan from Fama.

“My wife, who runs the shop, gets an income of about RM700 from the monthly sales,” he said.

Five more vegetable suppliers also received keys to their new motorcycles from Najib.

Earlier, Najib said that when he was the former Finance Minister, he approved an allocation of RM4mil for the setting up of Agrobazaar Kedai Rakyat nationwide back in 2009.

“This year, I have approved a RM3mil allocation to Fama to conduct Agrobazaar related programmes as well as RM1mil for its three-wheeled motorcycle scheme.

“I am glad that both schemes have helped the lower income group,” he said.

He added there were presently 95 Agrobazaar participants and 206 vegetable suppliers under the three-wheeled motorcycle scheme nationwide.

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