Price of vegetables went up by 160 percent in January 2023. Yet in October, over 130 hardworking farmers at Kanthan, north of Ipoh, Perak, who produce tonnes of vegetables, corn and fruits were evicted. Another 30 acres of farmland in Kanthan, Ipoh was destroyed in October 2023.
Even more ironic, Deputy Prime Minister announced in May that the government is identifying land for food production through Felcra. We have a net import of RM70-75 billion annually of food.
When chicken prices were soaring last year, due to the high cost of imported corn feed, suddenly there was talk of planting more corn.
Source: https://themalaysianreserve.com
Some of the farmland is being targeted for property development. Perhaps it's time to rethink our obsession with landed houses.
Would the farmers have been allowed to stay if they were of a different race? Most likely not! It is probable that this is a commercial transaction.
When 19.4ha of farmland near Taman Chepor Sentosa was transferred from the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) to a private company, the state sold it at a 65 percent discount to market prices.
One is also surprised by the conspicuous silence from reformasi-preaching PKR and the so-called socialist-rooted DAP in the state government. They should have at least convinced the Menteri Besar to work on a win-win solution on this issue.
So, is it about greed or cronyism?
References:
Comment: Is food security a joke in Perak? Andrew Sia, Malaysiakini, 28 October 2023
Food security vital for nation’s wellbeing, Ronald Benjamin, Malaysiakini, 26 Octobe
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