KUALA LUMPUR: Alor Star MP Gooi Hsiao Leung hopes that the Federal Government would not be hasty in concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) without taking into consideration the rice farmers in the country, millers and other stakeholders in the rice industry. “I hope that some answers will be provided during the Special Parliament sitting on TPPA on January 26.
“The TPPA has potentially devastating effects on the rice industry, which is one of the ruling party’s main supporters.”
He noted that the TPPA calls for the elimination, within 11 years, of all import tariffs on rice from other member countries. “The Ministry of Agriculture must explain the TPPA regulation that imported rice from member countries must be treated as domestic rice. What will become of Malaysia’s price control policy on rice? Imported rice is now more expensive than domestic rice.”
Also, he added, what will become of Bernas as the sole rice importer? “Will it still continue to operate, having a monopoly in the industry, or will it be eliminated by TPPA?
“What will happen after Bernas’ concession agreement with the government expires in 2021, in six years’ time?”
Not so long ago, recalled Gooi, Minister of Agriculture Ahmad Shabery Cheek was talking about “food sovereignty” but nothing is being heard about this anymore, especially since the TPPA emerged as the way forward for Malaysia. “Food sovereignty is a policy of strategic importance for Malaysia. We have to produce our own food so that we don’t depend on other countries.”
He argued that it was important for the country to be able to feed itself from domestic production.
Source from FMT News
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