Enough food to go around, Brunei also sends request

Kota Kinabalu: CM Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie assured that there is ample food supply in the State. “I was even made to understand that there is an oversupply of fish…we have vegetables as well and food supply is enough,” he said during question time.

He said it is important “to have a clear cut between supply and distribution.”

“We cannot encourage people to plant vegetables as many as they like during this period as we know that the demand is not there.

“But for vegetables that had been produced, I have asked the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry and the Trade and Industry Ministry to list out the existing hypermarkets and supermarkets in the State. And we do not need to rely much on middlemen, for example, for fish supply, we have Sabah Fish Marketing (Safma).

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Sabah revenue hits RM6.97 billion: Hajiji says GRS State Government may see full term

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year.

“Previously, we have Sama (Sabah Agricultural Marketing Agency), a marketing operation that gathered the produce from farmers to be channeled to the retail sector.

“We also cannot encourage many middlemen to bring their lorries to Kundasang as we are currently in a restricted moverment situation and we need to reduce mobility.”

He also disclosed the State Government will arrange for food supply to be exported.

“The Foreign Minister of Brunei Darussalam, for example, has contacted me so that we can supply food items to them.

“I informed Wisma Putra of this matter…it is better to bring this excess food supply to our neighbouring country, rather than letting it go to waste,” he said.

Shafie also said that the government will provide zero-interest financial assistance to affected farmers, once the MCO is lifted.

“I am aware that their income was affected and that is why there will be financial assistance for them, but we cannot provide it for free.

“The government can help but we do not want to spoil the people…we do not want to create a culture of being highly dependent on government aid.

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“We also want to create a competitive and independent culture, especially among the young generation of Sabahans,” he said. – Ricardo Unto

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