KUALA LUMPUR: Lawmakers from opposite sides of the political divide are urging the government to review its decision to implement an open tender system for the Federal Government Paddy Fertiliser Scheme.
The subsidy has hitherto been given directly to the National Farmers’ Organisation’s (Nafas) fertliser factory in Gurun, Kedah.
PKR parliamentary whip Datuk Johari Abdul (PH-PKR-Sungai Petani) said the factory was the brainchild of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and 80 per cent of its shares were held by 900,000 farmers.
“The government has spent much to develop the Nafas factory and to get ISO standard certification,” he said.
“Suddenly, there was purported wrongdoing by the board of directors in the previous government. Therefore the (current) government made the decision to implement an open tender system, whereby Nafas becomes a bidder.
“This, I feel, is unfair. Firstly, if action is to be taken, take action against the board of directors. Do not punish Nafas.
“Maybe it was a past wrong to put the dacing logo (Barisan Nasional logo) on Nafas fertiliser.
“But, I feel it is not right need to punish Nafas.”
Johari said this during a debate on Budget 2019 at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He received the support of Tan Sri Noh Omar (BN-Umno-Tanjong Karang) who said: “I feel relieved when Yang Berhormat (Johari) proposed that the government should not proceed with the open tender,” he said.
“Despite being from a different party, I agree fully on this issue.
“I wanted to raise the issue but since it has been raised (by Johari), I fully support his proposal for a review.
“If we opposition speak, people do not listen. The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry must be urged to give direct tender to Nafas to provide fertiliser,” he said.
Another opposition lawmaker, Datuk Ahmad Maslan (BN-Umno-Pontian), also voiced opposition to the implementation of an open tender system.
“Around 80 per cent of Nafas shares are owned by farmers associations and 20 percent are owned by Petronas,” he said. “Nafas not only makes paddy fertiliser, but also fertiliser for rubber and oil palm trees. I visited the Nafas factory in 2017 and I agree with Sungai Petani’s proposal,” he said.
Johari also urged the government
to review cuts in fertiliser subsidies for the agricultural sector in Budget 2019.
“I feel agrieved at the 50 per cent cut in subsidy for fertiliser for next year,” he said.
“As we know, farmers rely heavily on government subsidies.
“If there is a 50 per cent cut, I believe, as a farmer’s son, that our productivity will be cut by 50 per cent next year.
“If subsidies are not given to farmers, it is not possible for them to buy fertiliser.
“Therefore, I ask the government to review it (decision to cut subsidy), because if there is a cut, how are we to achieve 90 per cent self-sufficiency? This worries me.”
Johari also questioned the government’s decision to no longer give subsidies for paddy fertiliser to farmers in Sabah and Sarawak
“I was quite shocked on finding that no hill paddy subsidy was given to them (farmers) and this jeopardises their lifelihoods.”
In Budget 2019, the agricultural sector was allocated RM47 million for research and development in seed, cereal and fruit productivity; RM18 million for agrofood industry automation; and RM52 million to implement entrepreneurship programmes and agro-based industry training.