INCUMBENT Ampang MP Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin who is vying for a fourth-term is hopeful the electorate in her parliamentary constituency will consider her achievements as the outgoing Plantation Industries and Commodities minister when they cast their votes during the forthcoming 15th General Election (GE15).
The Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president-designate was appointed the Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister in August 2021 under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration helmed by caretaker prime minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Prior to this, she served as the Housing and Local Government Ministry twice in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former PM Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (March 2020 to August 2021) and during the Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration under another two-time Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (May 2018 to February 2020).
Achievements at MPIC
“One of my biggest achievements which will have an impact on the future of Malaysia’s Agri-commodity industry is the National Agri-commodity Policy 2021-2030 (DAKN 2030) which was launched in March 2022 to further drive the development of the country’s Agri-commodity sector in a more sustainable, competitive and market-oriented manner,” shared Zuraida.
“This is in tandem with new norms and increased leverage on digital technology in the post-COVID-19 era. The six Agri-commodity products that will benefit directly from the implementation of DAKN 2030 are (i) palm oil; (ii) rubber; (iii) timber; (iv) cocoa; (v) pepper; and (vi) kenaf.”
Another achievement during Zuraida’s tenure as the plantation industries and commodities minister is how contrary to expectations, Malaysia’s agricommodity products experienced ‘booming years’ with an overall increase of 64% from the pre-pandemic period of 2018-2019 during the two-year COVID-19/MCO (Movement Control Order) period of 2020-2021.
“Testament to this is that despite the country facing numerous economic devastations from the raging COVID-19 pandemic, the export value of Malaysia’s agri-commodity products rose significantly over the four-year period from RM127.9 bil in 2018 and RM128.5 bil (2019) to RM151.3 bil(2020) and RM209.6 bil (2021),” she noted.
Besides leading trade delegations to promote Malaysian Agri-commodity products and undertaking efforts to accelerate employment of migrant workers to overcome manpower crunches in the palm oil industry, Zuraida said she was also instrumental in pushing Malaysian palm oil to penetrate new global markets.
“This shows that the commodity has gained greater international acceptance amid the ministry’s intense Global Movement to Champion the Goodness of Palm Oil campaign,” she explained.
“At least three countries which had never imported Malaysian palm oil in the past, namely Estonia, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, have started purchasing the commodity in recent months.”
For the record, Zuraida will be defending the Ampang seat which she has held since 2008 in a nine-cornered fight – the constituency with the second greatest number of candidates in this national poll after Batu which attracted 10 candidates.
Interestingly, Zuraida who is also a strong woman advocate herself will square off with four other women candidates, namely MCA Beliawanis chief Ivone Low Yi Wen of Barisan Nasional (BN), Rodziah Ismail (Pakatan Harapan), Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif (Perikatan Nasional) and Nurul Ashikin Mabahwi (Pejuang).
The other four candidates are Warisan’s Lai Wai Chong and three independent candidates, Muhammad Shafiq Izwan Mohd Yunos, Tan Hua Meng and M. Raveendran. – Nov 15, 2022
Main pic credit: The Star
