PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin says the newly introduced revocation of permitted permits to import foodstuffs into the nation is barely a populist transfer and would not resolve the nation’s food safety woes in the long run. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon
By Yiswaree Palansamy
Thursday, 19 May 2022 1:15 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 — The newly introduced revocation of permitted permits (AP) to import foodstuffs into the nation is barely a populist transfer and would not resolve the nation’s food safety woes in the long run, PKR’s Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin stated right now.
The former deputy agriculture and agro-based trade minister claimed the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob does not yield a lot impact because it solely covers 5 food varieties — spherical cabbage, rice, previous coconuts, evaporated milk and uncooked rooster — which might not assist in decreasing the price of food costs.
“The government should understand the agricultural industry and the food chain in-depth. The cause of rising food prices is actually dependent on food imports. Malaysia will import RM55 billion worth of food in 2020. When international food prices go up, then Malaysian food prices would also rise because we import.
“When the Malaysian ringgit falls to RM4.40 against the US$1, food prices go up because we pay the producer country in US dollars. Excessive dependence on food imports is the cause of rising food prices. In my opinion, the government should increase the capacity of our own country to produce food to meet the needs of 32 million people in our country. This is called food sovereignty,” Sim stated.
He added that food sovereignty goals to improve the capability of farmers, fishermen and small and medium breeders within the nation to meet native food wants.
Sim, who’s PKR’s spokesperson for agriculture and commodities, careworn that the coverage of abolishing the AP, though seemingly popular, will not resolve the issue of food prices if the federal government does not improve the food manufacturing capability of home farmers, fishermen and ranchers.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday introduced that the federal government has agreed not to impose the AP with fast impact after a Cabinet assembly he chaired yesterday.
Ismail Sabri reportedly stated that he had additionally ordered the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries to put together brief and long-term plans to keep away from food crises on this nation due to points such because the Russia-Ukraine battle.