SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government will soon be introducing Tongkat Ali rice to consumers through a biotechnology method, said state Agriculture and Fisheries Committee chairman Datuk Raja Ideris Raja Ahmad.
He said the state, with the help of university professors and other experts, was now conducting research on the benefits of adding Tongkat Ali to rice.
“Tongkat Ali is known for its health benefits and we will be able to provide consumers with more options (with the rice),” he said when replying to Datuk Abdul Samad Maharuddin (BN – Morib).
Replying to Datuk Zainal Abidin Sakom (BN – Batang Kali), Raja Ideris said the state’s fruit export was RM220mil for the first half of last year.
He said star fruit, papaya, coconut and watermelon were in great demand from countries like Hong Kong, Europe and Canada.
“The demand for siakap and tiger prawns is also high in neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia,” he said.
Replying to Teng Chang Khim (DAP – Bandar Klang), Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo said houses of worship, temples and churches would receive a larger annual maintenance grant in future.
Once the registration exercise was completed, he said, the annual grant would be increased.
Teng pointed out that the RM3mil annual grant allocated by the state was insufficient in view of the large number of temples in the state.
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