AGRICULTURE and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub said he is ready to meet activists on their demand for the government to present a white paper on agriculture.
Salahuddin said he was willing to discuss issues troubling the sector to avoid past mistakes and urged those proposing a white paper to meet him.

“Can, can… see me, come to the office, meet me to discuss,” he told The Malaysian Insight in response to a report on calls for the need of a white paper.

Agriculture groups said a white paper was needed to identify weaknesses in the sector. 

They said the government cannot continue with old methods and projects, which had not produced any fruitful results.

Agriculture activist Jes Izman Izaidin told The Malaysian Insight the country could not further develop the sector if the development model was based on allocation for programmes which have not worked.

“To end this agriculture crisis, we must have a white paper from the government. Release the report card. What happened to all the funds that had been spent. That is the first step,” he said. 

Save the Padi Industry and Rice National Action Body (Padi Rescue) chairman Fitri Amir Muhammad said a white paper was the necessary first step to revive agriculture.

He said the nation’s padi sector is in limbo due to poor management of every aspect of its planting. 

“We also have come out with a working paper on the problems faced by the country’s padi,” he said.  – May 28, 2019.