BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 5 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on local plantation companies with large land reserves to plant vegetables and fruits to cover the country’s growing food needs.
He said he has instructed companies like Sime Darby Bhd, FGV Holdings Bhd, and Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd to implement the matter.
“This is a medium-term measure that we can take to deal with the rising cost of living. Malaysia is fertile, why are there insufficient vegetables and fruits? It is a matter of supply and demand.
“That is why we ask these big companies to plant vegetables and fruits. The prices of chillies and onions are now sky high because they are all imported,” Anwar said during a dialogue session with staff of Dell Technologies earlier today.
He said these big companies also have the expertise and resources to grow essential food crops.
Meanwhile, to deal with the high cost of living, the government will continue subsidising basic food items and expand the Rahmah initiative nationwide, as a short-term solution.
Regarding the government’s plans to stabilise the ringgit’s value against foreign currencies, especially the United States (US) dollar, Anwar said the issue is very complex as it is related to the effects of economic actions taken by the US, which are beyond Malaysia’s control.
Therefore, it is very important to increase the confidence of foreign investors in Malaysia by maintaining political stability under the leadership of the Unity Government.
“Right now, the ringgit is strengthening slightly due to the influx of foreign investments such as from Tesla, Bosch, Geely, and Saudi Aramco, so do not underestimate the need for a stable government with a clear economic policy.
“We cannot just surrender our fate to the United States Federal Reserve because their decisions on interest rates will have vibrations throughout the world, but we can contain the extent by ensuring that there is stability in the government through its economic policies,” he said.
— Bernama
