Minister of Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed delivers his speech during the National Rehabilitation Council (MPN) dialogue with leaders of associations and chambers of commerce at Pulai Springs Resort, Johor Baru on 5 March 2022. – Image by Hari Anggara
Monday, August 22, 2022 8:37 PM MYT
PUTRAJAYA, August 22 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (Mafi) and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) have been invited to present a holistic study on the direction of the country’s food supply , said the Special Task Force on Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, a member of the Jihad committee against inflation.
This will cover studies related to smart farming strategies, land use for paddy crops, meat supply and mackerel price increase, he told a conference in press after chairing the 12th working group meeting here today.
Mustapa, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy), said the committee heard a presentation from the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) regarding the study of five food items, namely cabbage, mackerel , sawi (mustard greens), infant formula and meat.
“It has been presented (the study), but we only suggest that this study from the point of view of KPDNHEP be combined with Mafi.
“For example, for smart agriculture and (that) related to paddy, efforts should be made to ensure that paddy cultivation areas do not decrease,” he said.
Regarding mackerel, he said that the MyCC also gave a presentation regarding the price increase and there were members of the public who could not afford to buy this ‘ikan rakyat’ or the people’s fish.
He said Malaysia depends on 40% local mackerel production and 60% on imported fish, namely fresh fish from Thailand and frozen fish from China.
“It (the price of fish) has to do with the fish resources of the country. The measure taken is to increase the supply of frozen fish as it is much cheaper than fresh fish,” he said, adding that efforts should be made to increase Malaysians’ interest in consuming aquatic fish or “freshwater fish”.
In other developments, Mustapa said local chicken supply and price was stable averaging at RM8.57 per kilogram (kg), below the government’s RM9.40 ceiling price for chicken. per kg in Peninsular Malaysia.
“There is no (oversupply) problem, no egg problem; the price is in line with the price set by the government, which is for grade A, for example, 45 cents per egg,” he said.
Regarding the “Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) Cheap Sale” (JMKM) program, Mustapa said last week that out of more than 600 constituencies in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN), 120 had put him on. implemented.
“The Inflation Jihad Special Task Force will continue to mobilize the five key ministries to ensure that the JMKM reaches all state assemblies at least twice a month so that as many people as possible can benefit from the JMKM initiative by reducing the burden of the cost of living,” he also said.
Apart from the KPDNHEP, the four main ministries that work together to implement the JMKM program are the Mafi, the Ministry of Entrepreneurs and Cooperatives Development, the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Federal Lands.
The JMKM scheme, which gives people access to essential goods at prices 10-20% below market price, is expected to run for 18 weeks until the end of this year. — Bernama
