Strict monitoring and enforcement on local rice production needed, says Kedah MCA leader


ALOR SETAR: The Agriculture and Food Security Ministry should establish an effective monitoring and enforcement mechanism in managing rice-related matters, especially at the production level, says a Kedah MCA leader.

Alor Setar MCA division chairman Tan Chee Hiong claimed that difficulties in sourcing for local rice in the market had given the impression that farmers were not harvesting rice at all.

"This is despite statistics revealing that (the share of) local rice production has consistently remained at 60% compared to imported rice at 40%.

"It casts a negative perception on farmers, which is the backbone of the nation's food security," he said in a statement on Friday (March 15).

On the proposal to raise the floor price of rice procurement and to provide additional subsidies to farmers in the upcoming National Cost of Living Action Council (NACCOL) meeting on March 20, Tan said it was worth considering to ensure that the goal of assisting farmers was achieved.

The proposal was brought up by Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, who was chairman of NACCOL's Food Cluster Monitoring Task Force.

"We do not want what is being said to be merely cosmetic in nature, but we want real benefits to be provided to the target groups as intended.

"It is crucial that every policy proposed or implemented will take into account the views and involvement of various parties, including farmers and industry players," he said.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Kedah , MCA , Rice , Enforcement , Local Rice ,

   

Next In Nation

Anwar, Li witness exchange of documents on BRI cooperation plan
Elderly vegetable trader loses RM274,000 to scam syndicate
Typhoon Kristine mission: 16 Malaysian Air Force officers, personnel return home safely
Perlis Mufti sues Facebook account holder for alleged GISB related defamatory statements
Plans to amend Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act underway, says Saifuddin
Appeals Court dismisses man’s appeal to claim RM29,000 in unpaid salary from company
Lawmaker sheds tears in Parliament, calls fellow MPs to be empathetic
More than 20 elderly folks abandoned outside NGO in Penang
Overbearing ‘joke’ identified as possible motive in UPNM bullying case, says KL top cop
Sabah cops seek two individuals involved in brutal dog killing

Others Also Read