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Message
Yong Teck Lee:
"This is my promise to you, that our struggle continues and I will
always be by your side"...."Trust and integrity of the leaders are
fundamental to the future of a country or a government or, in our case,
SAPP as a serious political party of the future"
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2008 Nov 11 - Scrap Bernas monopoly on supply of rice
SAPP YOUTH : SCRAP BERNAS MONOPOLY ON SUPPLY OF RICE.
Kota Kinabalu (Nov 11, 2008): In response to recent press release from Sabah Commercial Rice Miller
Association (Padikom) President, Jaujip Pangalin, we applaud the
association for voicing out the problems faced by the association and its
members.The comprehensive reasons as well as figures detailed in the press
statement shows the extent of unfair treatment meted out to local padi
farmers and millers.

Why is the government subsidy given to millers in Sabah lower than in
Semenanjung, reported to be at RM800 per metric tone? It is alarming to
note that BERNAS action in selling imported rice cheaper than local rice
will also cause padi farmers to stop planting padi and the inevitable
closure of rice millers.
Have we not learned from the recent world food crisis debacle? What is
worrying is when the effects of the global economic downturn reaches the
shores of Sabah, our staple diet, rice will be imported like other
commodities. One can only guess how much subsidy can the government give
then? How long can we rely on rice exporting countries to supply to us and
at what price? The price will then sky rocket to the whims and fancies of
the exporting countries.
The Chief Minister’s announcement back in May that a “further 26,500
hectares of land was needed for padi cultivation in order to achieve self
sufficiency”. Has the land been identified? What exactly has been done by
the relevant ministry to safeguard Sabah from another episode of rice
shortage?
As such, SAPP Youth urges the government to re-establish the defunct Sabah
Padi and Rice Board. This Board will look specifically into managing the
padi planting and rice production within the State. The affairs of the
padi farmers, millers and all in the industry can also be under the
Board’s purview. The Board shall also seek a licence from the Federal
Government to import/export rice. This licence will enable the Board to
import rice if the current padi cultivation programme is not ready to
cater for the State’s needs. Similarly, any excess can be sold to other
countries.
It is also hoped that with the setting up of the proposed local agency,
Sabah Padi & Beras Board, may be then can we see yields of up to 15 tonnes
of padi per hectare as in Sekinchan, Selangor, as compared to only 3
metric tone currently found in Sabah. This five fold increase is
achievable with enough resources and R & D.
Edward Dagul
Youth Chief |
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