KUALA LUMPUR – Former agriculture minister Sim Tze Tzin has called on Putrajaya to review the indiscriminate import of vegetables, which has threatened the livelihoods of local farmers due to the drastic drop in prices.
He added that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis), and the Agriculture Department need to find solutions to control imports.
Sim, who is Bayan Baru MP, said China exporters have even opened companies in Malaysia to facilitate direct imports, while vegetable imports from Thailand are high.
“These companies have huge resources and dominate the import supply chain, which allows them to control the vegetable market in Malaysia. This has led to huge losses for the local farmers.
“Although the consumers are happy about the low prices, this is unhealthy for our local industry in the long run. Previously a head of cabbage cost RM4 per kilo, now it’s RM1.80. Production cost comes up to RM1.60.
“If this continues, local farmers will be pushed out and even retire, affecting the country’s food security. Malaysia should not be overly dependent on imports,” he said in a statement today. – July 24, 2024