YOURSAY | ‘Those with lands to farm, they can probably afford imported vegetable.’

Save money; plant vegetables not flowers, urges deputy minister

Quigonbond: If the world is in crisis, and our economy is not tanking due to the fault of our leaders, then sure, Malaysia can go on an austerity drive.

They will still do so (assuming they actually have space to plant vegetables - not everyone lives in palatial grounds like Umno warlords do), but to have to listen to this incompetent and corrupt government telling us to safe and be frugal while they are still using ‘donation’ money to jet-set around and then eat turtle eggs on top of that, is like pouring salt on a wound.

P Dev Anand Pillai: Here we go again, our great and learned ministers have spoken again.

Instead of assuring the people that the administration would work hard to cleanse itself from corruption so that funds can be saved and more land can be cultivated to enable us to be less dependent on food imports, we have this advice instead.

But yet again, these are the type of people whom the voters love and keep voting for time and again.

RKR: Most people’s front yard garden is about the size of their bathroom, and some flat dwellers' balcony is half that size.

So with this we can plant onions, garlic, ginger, peanuts and some imported vegetables? Not to mention, the lack of time available for city folks who have to battle the traffic daily to and from work.

With this kind of ideas from our pea-brained ministers, Malaysia is on its way to developed nation status by 2018, two years earlier than the target. Well done, Najib Abdul Razak.

Anakraja: Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, come to my flat on the 14th floor, show us how to plant vegetables in the front and back of my dwelling.

Vent: They have slowly but surely all but killed off a viable agricultural sector and they continue to frustrate some hardworking fruit and vegetable farmers because they are mainly of a particular ethnic group.

Now they ask us to "plant vegetables in the balcony, by the bedroom" on the assumption that every Malaysian lives in an Italian-styled villa with a trellis balcony such as the 'jaguh kampung' ministers own.

After all, climbing vegetable plants are perfect screens to hide all the shenanigans that take place routinely in their bedrooms behind the balconies.

But you can’t really blame this ‘katak di bawah tempurung’. He just doesn’t know better. He deserves our sympathy not condemnation. Look who his masters are.

SMC77: Why doesn't the deputy minister say Malaysians should stop eating vegetables and just consume rice with soy sauce or chilli padi?

Perhaps the cheapest way is to cut diet by drinking water and have one meal a day.

Onyourtoes: Hey smart minister, those with lands to farm, they probably can afford imported vegetable.

You tell me how those living in flats and low-cost houses are going to plant vegetables and fruits?

By the way, do you know the whole country is so infested with pests and worms that it is almost impossible to plant anything?

Bamboo: Why have we become a net food importing nation? It's the skewered policy of the government. Land is left idle.

Those who want to cultivate land are not given land. When all matters are coated with race, everything goes down the drain.

Snake-in-the-Grass: You should let Tajuddin to stand under the noon-day sun for two hours every day and give him lots of chlorophyll - he might produce some edible leaves and contribute to the economy of this sad country of his.

I supply the solar panel, would you supply the chlorophyll?

Sipput: Yes, if you want fish, go catch them. The country is surrounded by sea. If your electricity bill goes up, use wood and kerosene instead.

If you need meat, either start a farm or go hunting. The best things in life are free.

Saifuddin: Harapan can win GE14 on anti-Umno wave

6th Generation Immigrant: It takes more than Anything But Umno (ABU) sentiments to defeat Umno-BN. Saifuddin Abdullah, Lim Kit Siang, Mohamad Sabu and all supporting NGOs must get their acts together.

What is happening in Penang and Selangor appears haphazard and directionless. There appears to be no gelling mechanism among those who are seeking ABU.

All ABU supporters must therefore call a full summit (maybe four to five summits before it can be finalised) to discuss full acceptance their GE14 election manifesto.

Ladies and gentlemen, Umno and BN has made the country sick since 1981 playing around with the constitution, we are talking of a complete rebuilding of the nation through a real social contract, not what is being perceived or peddled.

Is Pakatan Harapan ready? I think not, at this time today.

Anonymous_1375693422: Besides quickly putting its own house in order, Pakatan Harapan has to strive much harder to win rural votes/constituencies in both West and East Malaysia.

It was the smaller rural constituencies that returned BN to power with less than half the total votes in GE13.

Malapportionment and thus the proportion of rural constituencies would probably be further increased in the ongoing redelineation exercise to help BN retain power in GE14.

The anti-Umno sentiment may spread in the urban areas, but unless Pakatan achieves much more success in wresting rural constituencies from Umno, BN would still win - or steal - GE14 with even less of the total vote than in GE13.

Anonymous #10894621: With due respect, Saifuddin, let’s not count the eggs before they hatch.

The opposition parties need to put their house in order and resolve their internal conflicts if they are to pose a real threat to Umno-BN.

All for Malaysia: Saifuddin, it’s time to wake up. Dreams are just that, dreams, and the reality is that many who have supported the opposition have become tired of their antics. In GE14, BN will get stronger.

Gaji Buta: So you’re depending on others’ weakness or unpopularity to win? What about Pakatan itself?

You expect people to vote you because the alternative is worse? Do you even have a plan?

Ksn: Good views, Saifuddin, about ABU. But is PKR up to it? Courting PAS fanatics is the vital question.

Awang Top: Saifuddin, search your own new-found party first whether they are ready not to support Umno's motion like in Penang. PKR is losing the battle even before the war starts.

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