PUTRAJAYA: Padi farmers hope that the memorandum accepted by the Prime Minister's Office will lead to the raising of the padi floor price and rid of the Quality Crop Seed Bill.
Malaysia Padi Farmers Brotherhood Association (PeSawah) chairman Abdul Rashid Yob, who led seven buses of farmers to Putrajaya on Monday (Jan 27) said that the Prime Minister's political secretary Chan Ming Kai accepted the memorandum on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
However, Chan said that he merely listened to the farmers’ representatives.
“I will pass the memorandum to the minister in charge as I am not in a position to comment on the issue,” said Chan, when contacted.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, in a short text to the media, said that he will take responsibility and deal with the farmers on the ground.
Abdul Rashid said that he hoped that the memorandum would be taken to the Prime Minister.
“The padi floor price was set at RM1,300 since 2023, but that price is too low as the subsidy removal of diesel last June has led to a higher cost for all the other services and machinery as we have to bear 55% of the increase in costs.
“This forces farmers to bear higher machinery costs, which are charged by machine owners, as they no longer receive the diesel fleet card.
“The rising costs of ploughing and harvesting are due to the removal of diesel subsidies. This forces farmers to bear higher machinery costs, which are charged by machine owners, as they no longer receive the diesel fleet card,” said Abdul Rashid.
Earlier, scores of farmers gathered at the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry after being moved from the Prime Minister’s Office by the police.
The group also opposed the Bill claiming it was drafted without any meaningful consultation with framers in the country.
