by FAYYADH JAAFAR / pic by TMR

THE government must not rush into making knee-jerk decisions regarding the current food security issue and instead, adopt a holistic approach towards preventing future crises.

DAP secretary general Anthony Loke Siew Fook (picture) said the government needs to consider all aspects of the food supply chain from production to distribution, with greater coordination between states and the central government before taking any actions.

“The government should not take an easy step to solve the problem, but rather, they need to think about the long term and what measures can be taken to prevent such a crisis from happening again,” he told reporters after visiting the Pudu wet market today.

Loke said while the government had announced a ban on chicken export, it was only a reactive measure, which would have little effect on stabilising the supply of chicken.

“Yesterday, the Cabinet made a number of decisions regarding the supply of chicken, including the export ban but I feel that they are merely reactive measures. We should be proactive, especially since the issue is likely to get worse.

“It is a short-term solution and does not address the root cause of the problem. The government must come up with a more comprehensive plan to ensure that chicken supply is stable and that the price remains within reasonable limits,” he added.

On the country’s image as a trading nation, Loke said the country could lose its competitive edge due to recent developments.

“Malaysia is known for being a trading nation, but the way things are going now, we might end up losing our competitive advantage. If this continues, it will affect the economy and the livelihoods of many people.

“It will set a precedent for other countries to be wary of us. The government needs to act quickly and decisively to avoid serious implications,” he added. 

He suggested implementing a stabilisation fund by utilising the revenue generated from the “cukai makmur” (prosperity tax) to help stabilise the supply of food. 

“Under the Pakatan Harapan government, we had the Subsistence Council to work closely with the relevant agencies to monitor the supply of food. But now, I am unsure whether the council is still active,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, who was also at the visit, agreed that the government should have done more to prevent the current chicken supply shortage.

She called for the formation of an emergency task force to tackle the issue.

“The Ukraine-Russia conflict should have been anticipated and Malaysia should have taken steps to prepare for a disruption in supplies.

“The emergency task force should coordinate with various agencies, including those related to agriculture and food supply, to formulate a comprehensive plan to deal with this situation,” she said.

Traders at the Pudu wet market expressed their grouses over the price of chicken which had increased drastically, some going beyond RM10 per kilogramme.

Also present at the visit were Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai, Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, and committee members of the Pudu Kuala Lumpur Hawkers and Small Traders Association.