Kuching,Sarawak,Malaysia:-
First, it was diesel and gasoline. Then, came sugar, cooking oil, flour and now rice. This is a global food crisis story. At first glance, we, Malaysians hardly agree with it. Then it came. Shortage came after shortage of essential items.
Finally earlier this month, the new Malaysian Cabinet admitted that the Global Food crisis may also hit this little country, albeit on a smaller scale.
Malaysia produces more than half of its own food. On top of the list was rice, oil palm, fish, fruits and vegetables. As for meat, it is still mainly an imported item.
Since taking over from Dr Mahathir Mohammad in 2003, Abdullah Badawi, the Prime Minister had made food production one of the main engine of growth.
It has been five years now. The wheels are still grinding a bit too slowly. Making worse out of a bad situation are members of the ruling coalition who abandoned the National Front at its hour of real need, the General election.
The Opposition took five states and the National Front’s much touted developmental corridor is now in jeopardy.
Malaysia is right now feeling the Global Food crunch. Those corridors of development that was launched right before the General Election is based upon calculation of tripling food production. Of course, industries are not left out completely.
Since a sizeable of its population are still involved in agriculture, the Prime Minister thought that it is better to lure them into modern farming which is much more productive. In other words they are going to produce food not only for themselves but for others too. At the same time, relative poverty can be greatly reduced.
Vowing to continue with his development plan on the eve of introducing his new cabinet, Datuk Abdullah agreed that some changes are needed because the Northern Development Corridor and the Eastern Development Corridor are now in Opposition’s hand.
However, political pundits pointed out that there are alternatives if the Government found the treatment meted out by the Opposition states to be very rough. The development Corridors of Sarawak and Sabah are still intact. These two corridors can be implemented first since they are in the National Front’s hands.
From the news above there is no denying that one of the main reasons of this global food crisis is politics. In this case politics is only good if it does not negatively affect food production. However, if it does hinder food production, then only heaven can help us.