THE Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry views seriously foreigners’ involvement in padi farming and conversion of the fields into vegetable farms, which is more profitable.

Deputy Minister I Ahmad Hamzah said converting the fields can reduce the size of padi-growing areas.

“The foreigners’ involvement in padi farming has been reported to the relevant authority for further action,” he said, when winding up the debate for the ministry on Supply Bill 2022 at the committee level in the Dewan Rakyat today.

His response follows an impromptu question from Salim Sharif (Jempol-BN), who asked about media reports of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants engaged in padi farming by renting the fields from the owners.

Twelve parliamentarians took part in the debate.

The Dewan Rakyat has approved the ministry’s estimated operating expenditure of about RM3.28 billion. – Bernama, November 25, 2021.