PKR wants the government to top up the income of rubber tappers to RM1,200 a month, as they are now earning significantly lower than the RM1,000 minimum wage in Peninsular Malaysia due to a crash in rubber prices.

Its vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said at present, rubber tappers were making a meagre income of between RM400 and RM500 a month.

"PKR proposes that a permanent payment mechanism be set up to ensure the minimum income of rubber tappers is at RM1,200, as suggested by the National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW)," Nurul Izzah told a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.