PSM questions MPPN appointments ‘unrelated’ to agriculture
PSM is questioning the government’s recent appointments to the National Agricultural Advisory Council (MPPN) which it said lacked real on-the-ground understanding of the industry.
Party's central committee member Sharan Raj said the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry should have instead elected its members from actual farmers, fisherfolk, and animal breeders.
PSM is questioning the government’s recent appointments to the National Agricultural Advisory Council (MPPN) which it said lacked real on-the-ground understanding of the industry.
Party's central committee member Sharan Raj said the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry should have instead elected its members from actual farmers, fisherfolk, and animal breeders.
“PSM regrets MPPN appointments which do not involve farmers, fisherfolk and breeders...who are working hard to produce the country’s food stocks.
“Instead, the ministry appointed capitalists, food importers and middle persons who are not involved in the agriculture sector.
“In fact, many of the academics appointed into MPPN...do not have (know) the realities,” Sharan (above) said in a statement.
He said the federal policies over the past 40 years have failed to ensure food sovereignty to the point that the food import bill had risen to RM50 billion in 2018.
“Malaysia lost food sovereignty as Putrajaya appointed elitist individuals who have made bad agriculture policies,” he added.
Sharan said the inclusion of experts in the field would allow for inclusive policies to be drafted which can strengthen the sector.
The failure, he added, would ensure food sovereignty remained out of reach and the government would continue to lack any understanding of the realities of farming from a food producer’s perspective.
It was reported on Thursday that the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry appointed 12 people to MPPN comprising 10 permanent members and two co-opted members.
The permanent members are Syed Razlan Syed Putra Jamalullail, Jeffrey Cheah, Fatima Mohamed Arshad, Francis Lau Tuang Nguang, Irmohizam Ibrahim, Mad Nasir Shamsudin, Rais Hussin Mohamed Ariff, Suhaimi Napis, Sivamurugan Pandian and M Niaz Asadullah.
Meanwhile, Yasmin Ooi and Raghu Loganathan Pillai are the two co-opted members.
They are to serve as the highest advisory body to aid the ministry on issues related to food security and agriculture sector.
