The government will not defend farmers who violate regulations on the use of pesticides, especially those whose harvests are exported to other countries, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Salahuddin Ayub.

He said farmers should not take the easy way out or using shortcuts by violating regulations just so they could produce “beautiful harvests.”

“This is not only for our agricultural produce that are meant for export, but also for the imported ones.

“The action by Singapore in stopping the export of lettuce from Malaysia that we have to withdraw the item from its market should be a lesson to us,” he told reporters at the Johor Mardi Day in Kluang today.

Also present were Johor Health, Environment and Agriculture Committee chairperson Sahruddin Jamal, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry secretary-general Sallehuddin Hassan and Mardi director-general Mohamad Roff Mohd Noor.

Salahuddin said this in response to Singapore’s action in suspending the import of iceberg lettuce from Malaysia after it was found to contain high level of Fipronil, a wide-spectrum pesticide.

He said the ministry would organise programme to advise farmers against such practices as it could tarnish the country’s image.

Citing Section 13 of the Food Act 1983, he said, farmers who failed to comply with regulations on the use of pesticides faced a fine of up to RM10,000, or imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both, if found guilty.

In another development, Salahuddin said he would meet Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to request for the ministry’s budget to not be cut to ensure progress of the country’s agriculture sector.

- Bernama