With Prabowo visiting, IGP advises 1,000 farmers to rally another day

Summary

• IGP Razarudin Husain advises 1,000 farmers to reschedule their rally outside the Prime Minister's Office due to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's visit.

• He says this is to avoid the farmers being subjected to the heavy security that will be in force during Prabowo's visit.

• UPDATED 11PM | Rally organisers say they will gather outside the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry instead.

Plans for 1,000 farmers to rally outside the Prime Minister's Office tomorrow morning should be rescheduled, said Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain.

This is as security at Perdana Putra will be tight due to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto visiting on the same day.

"The police respect the intentions of the 1,000 farmers but advise them to pick a different time and date so that we can provide better security to ensure that the safety of the Indonesian president is always prioritised.

"This advice is to avoid any difficulties to the 1,000 farmers and negative views towards the police if the participants are forced to go through strict security due to the Indonesian president's visit," Razarudin (above) said in a statement tonight.

Earlier this evening, the media was alerted that a large gathering of farmers will be held at 10am outside Perdana Putra on Jan 27.

They are demanding a raise in the floor price of paddy seeds, and for the Plant Seed Quality Bill to be nixed.

The bill is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year.

A key area of concern lies in the proposed licensing requirement that critics said would jeopardise a farmer’s basic right to store and share seeds, either for commercial or personal use.

Farmers change venue

In a follow-up statement, the rally organisers expressed disappointment that the Prime Minister's Office had not informed them about Prabowo's visit despite a letter being sent to Perdana Putra a while ago.

However, they vowed not to disrupt the visit and will instead gather outside the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry's office in Putrajaya tomorrow.

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