Editor’s Note: Despite having to recuperate after suffering a miscarriage six weeks into her pregnancy recently, aspirant Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman a.k.a. Rara has demonstrated that food security is an issue close to her heart. Probably, the mostly rural Bentong folks and Malaysians in general can expect her to champion this important cause in the Parliament should she emerge triumphant in the forthcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
The DAP deputy youth chief and incumbent Ketari state assemblywoman in the Pahang State Legislative Assembly will be engaged in a five-cornered fight against former MCA president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai (who was a former Bentong MP himself), incumbent MP Wong Tack who is now contesting as an independent candidate, Bersatu-Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Roslan Hassan and another independent candidate Mohd Khalil Abdul Hamid.
Below are her latest thoughts on the issue of food security that is plaguing Malaysia and how the PH government plans to tackle the issue should it win the GE15:
ADDRESSING issues of soaring prices of essential goods, food supply shortages, and ensuring food security will be among the top priorities of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government upon receiving the people’s mandate at the 15th General Elections (GE15).
During the combined administration of the Barisan Nasonal (BN)-Perikatan Nasional (PN), food shortages reached a critical level.
While the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI) sources had stated that the supply of several food items have exceeded domestic demand – for example the self-sufficiency level (SSL) for chicken is 104% while the SSL for eggs is 115% – it is perplexing that the rakyat still encounters shortages of chicken and eggs.
Food insecurity affects everyone regardless of race, religion and background. Not only does it cause an increase in prices but also leads to nutritional problems.
As a government, PH will implement a comprehensive review of the food supply chain to ensure sufficient food production, a streamlined supply ecosystem, and eliminating cartels to eradicate profiteering, while safeguarding the welfare of the industry’s key players such as farmers and fishermen.
PH will also increase the workforce of the modern agro sector as one of our main agendas in enhancing the country’s food security in addition to it being one of the key drivers in generating new economic opportunities for youths.
With existing government machinery and resources, we can streamline agro talent development programmes by increasing collaboration between the industry and higher training institutes to offer youths who are interested in building a promising career in the modern agriculture sector. In addition, HARAPAN will widen the social safety net for all farmers and fishermen within the duration of five years so that no one is left behind.
The problems facing us today are the legacies of BN’s dysfunctional system that has been entrenched for more than 60 years, and prolonged by the lack of political will by the PN-BN coalition to push for meaningful solutions within its 30 plus months of seizing power.
Clearly, PH is the only coalition with the ideas and political will to realise the aspirations and fulfil the interests of all communities, regardless of background, religion and ethnicity.
Let’s build a better Bentong and Malaysia together with PH! – Nov 11, 2022
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
