Rafizi: Private firms keen on collaborating opportunity under govt’s IPR-Intan Initiative can submit RFP in mid-September
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — Private firms keen on working under the federal government’s Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR) Usahawan Tani (IPR Intan) programme will now be able to submit their application from mid-September.
Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said both the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) and the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) are expected to publish their Request for Proposal (RFP) for several project sites next month followed by an official appointment by November.
“The government has allocated RM100 million for 2023 to implement the IPR-Intan project by way of RFP through selected private companies.
“A total of seven corridor authorities (PBK) and State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) have been entrusted with issuing the RFPs, selection, appointment and supervision of IPR-Intan projects based on agreements between the respective private companies,” he said during a press conference at his ministry in Putrajaya here.
Under the IPR-Intan programme, an estimated 600 acres of land has been allocated with 1,200 expected participants from the B40 and hardcore poor as well as modern agricultural companies that are operators and managers.
Rafizi said private companies that are interested must first submit a project proposal that covers at least three main components, including scope; implementation method; projected yield; projected income of participants; infrastructure costs; participant training; and long-term sustainability.
He said land owned by the government or privately-owned land are eligible for funding, subject to the type of land that is being worked on.
“For government-owned land, the government will fully fund the project’s implementation cost, including operations cost for the first cycle of harvest.
“For privately-owned land, the government will provide funding by way of a matching grant that is reimbursable at a rate of 50:50, with RM5 million in allocation for each application (around 40 acres of land),” he said.
Other conditions, Rafizi said, include a minimum term of land usage (five years for government-owned; 10 years for privately-owned) to ensure the land continues to provide for the future with clauses for automatic renewal of land lease.
As for participants, Rafizi said those working on privately-owned land are expected to be trained by their respective private companies with signed employment contracts to safeguard them from being exploited.
“Participants will also be guaranteed a minimum monthly income of RM2,000 and their work contract would also stipulate their entitlement to any excess profit-sharing if their crops are sold more than their estimated value,” he said.
Rafizi said further details on the RFP with the exception of the two aforementioned PBKs by other SEDC will be made in due time.
