RISING input costs have cut into the profit margins of farmers in Cameron Highlands, increasing their frustration with the new government they voted for in the 2018 elections, but which they now blame for not easing their burdens.

In Ulu Ringlet, a 67-year-old farmer, who only wanted to be known as Zhuo, said the price of fertiliser and pesticides has increased and together, make up 50% of farming costs while their produce fetches the same price.

“What has changed even though we changed the government? Things have gotten more expensive,” he said.

Zhuo said a big bottle of pesticide used to cost about RM160 but now costs between RM170 and RM180.

He told The Malaysian Insight that costs have been creeping up gradually in the last five years but now reached a point where his sales barely cover overheads.

“The prices of goods are going up but vegetable prices are still falling. No matter under what tax, farmers are operating at a loss. There’s little value in vegetables, while costs alone account for about 50%.”

Zhuo said farmers cannot simply raise their prices to cover costs as they sell their produce to middlemen.

‘Give PH more time’

The Chinese make up 30% of voters in Cameron Highlands, which is famed as a tourist spot for its cool climate that allows strawberry, flower and vegetable farms to flourish, besides its rolling hills covered with tea plantations.

In GE14, PH won almost 77% of the Chinese vote, while Barisan Nasional only managed 18%.

The farmers have felt the impact of the rising cost of living and find that issues, such as the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal or Malaysia’s RM1 trillion debt, are of secondary concern to them.

Despite their frustrations, some farmers from Ringlet, Habu and Lembah Bertam said they will still back PH in the by-election with the hope that the new government will eventually address their concerns.

A farming couple who only wanted to be known as the Wongs said they would vote for PH this by-election, while waiting to assess the government’s performance for the rest of the term.

“We’ll see what they can address and we hope that they can help,” said the wife.

The husband agreed that the PH government needs more time to tackle inherited debt and other issues left by the previous administration.

Another farmer, who gave her name as Ong, said she felt little difference under the new government but is willing to give PH more time.

Heng, 82, declared himself a loyal BN supporter, said he will not vote PH since it makes no difference to him.

“Whoever gets elected, it is not going to benefit us. It has been eight months after the government has changed, we are not feeling the difference.”

Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin, when contacted about farmers’ concerns, told The Malaysian Insight that PH will have to explain that high farming costs are partly cause by the ringgit’s low exchange rate.

The solutions are long term, he said, to develop agricultural research and technology so that Malaysia need not depend on imported fertilisers and pesticides.

“We are beginning to use more advanced planting techniques as well, solving these issues through technology.”

He said problems with middleman would also be addressed with a new “farm to family” concept that the ministry is working on.

Chinese New Year factor

The by-election’s timing close to the Chinese New Year festival is another worry, with PH leaders concerned about its impact on voter turnout.

PH’s by-election campaign director Wong Kah Woh, who is also Ipoh Timur MP told The Malaysian Insight that the coalition needs voter turnout to be no less than 70% to get a fighting chance at the seat.

The concern seems well founded, based on farmer Wong’s reaction. 

Wong, from Habu, said other farmers have been telling each other that many of their children living and working elsewhere are not planning to travel back to vote.

During GE14, news of voters travelling back to cast their ballots were all over social media, but the same level of enthusiasm is not detected this time.

The by-election is a four-cornered fight between BN’s Ramli Mohd Nor, M. Manogaran (PH) and independents Sallehudin Ab Talib and Wong Seng Yee. – January 17, 2019.