KUALA LUMPUR: There are only two things that the people in China will queue up for - a new release of iPhone and Malaysian durian.
Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said demands from China for Malaysian durian especially the Musang King should be taken positively as it would create a new source for the country’s wealth.
“High prices for durian should not be an issue, we should be worried if there are excess of durian as the prices will drop and it will be bad news for the farmers,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Shabery was responding to a question from Datuk Liang Teck Meng (BN-Simpang Renggam) which had asked the ministry to state the latest status on durian export to China and its impact on Malaysia’s industry as well as local durian farmers.
Shabery further said the spike in durian prices (RM100 per kg) this year was following the reduction in durian production to about 30 per cent. -- Reporting by Farhana Syed Nokman, Aina Nasa and Teh Athira Yusof