COMMENT Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s use of the humble kangkung (water spinach) to defend the rising cost of food should be seen in the context of poor policies and government powerlessness in ensuring our food security, which is national security.
Food, next to life, is mankind’s greatest common denominator. It reflects our identity, culture and has moral and religious significance. Its availability and price can stabilise or destabilise governments.
For example, rising cost and shortages in the supply of chillies, a key ingredient in the making of kimchi, can bring down a government in South Korea. Women will get on to the streets of Delhi, Mumbai and Chenai if the prices of onion soar, for without onions an Indian meal is incomplete. And women are an important pool of voters.
A prime minister of pedigree descent used the kangkung as an example to reach out to the poor as they are likely to consume more of this hardy perennial, grown everywhere in Southeast Asia. Asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower or romaine lettuce are what can be seen in the baskets of the middle class.
I recollect, whilie living and working in Penang I often purchased fresh produce from the Pulau Tikus market as it was close to where I lived. Each time I passed a particular vendor he would say, “Hari ini kembong (a kind of mackeral) dan kangkung murah (Today the kembong and kangkung are cheap)...”
I further observed that to some others he would point to the expensive kurau, senangin and asparagus or broccoli. One day I decided to ask him why he did not point the senangin and asparagus to me instead of the kangkung and kembong. He was stunned.
I learnt that the Pulau Tikus market was not only expensive, but catered to a particular class. Food is about class too. However, with soaring food prices, even the kembong and kangkung are not within the reach of poor households.
On a recent visit to Tasik Chini where I have many friends, I was shocked to learn that a kilo of ikan kembong costs RM15 and that the Orang Asli would have to drive to the shops in Felda to purchase saltwater fish. Tasik Chini is in the prime minister’s constituency, yet the families I spoke to said that they are struggling to purchase adequate food for their families.
In the upmarket supermarkets like in Bangsar, shoppers fill their trolleys with broccoli, asparagus, imported meat, cheese, cherries, avocados, wholegrain bread... food is about class too.
Business and politics control food
Food was viewed as a sustainer of life, but today food is a political weapon, a major source of corporate cash flow, monopolies and an instrument of power. Food is seen in the context of a market - in fact, a global market - and not in the context of a community. Our food and agriculture policies, food production and delivery systems are geared towards profit for the few and politically-connected.
Susan George, author of Feeding the Few, aptly said, “Corporations are not there to feed people, they are not there to provide jobs, they are there to make a profit. Period. So one should not expect them to be feeding people who cannot pay”.
It is the BN-led government policies that have given corporations and a few politically-connected the control over land, food production and food prices. 70 percent of arable land in Malaysia has been given away for oil palm plantations. Oil palm has replaced large areas of forests and resulted in substantial biodiversity loss.
Loss of land and biodiversity seriously impact food production. Malaysia will not be able to attain self-sufficiency in food because of policies that favour the rich and politically-connected.
The concentration of assets such as land and power in the hands of a few may result in a permanent food crisis situation for the poor.
Add to these factors, the impact of climate change on food yields and rising energy costs, Malaysia is a food insecure country. Our food and agriculture policies have failed to address the nexus between food, energy and the environment.
According to a paper published in 2013 by Lestari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 34.3 percent of poor households in Kuala Lumpur are food insecure. Given the current prices, one can safely assume that the number of food insecure households will reach alarming rates with devastating effects on children and future generations.
Najib (right) has reminded us that consumption has never existed outside of politics, as many historians have written as well. In their book, the Politics of Consumption, Martin Daunton and Mathew Hilton point out that states have had some form of market regulation since the Middle Ages. For example in 16th century France, purchasers of rotten eggs were allowed to throw them back at the vendor! Such regulations favoured those in power too.
The brouhaha over Najib’s reference to kangkung and blaming the weather over rising food prices will soon die down. What do we do about increasing food prices and transport, fuel and energy costs?
A strong citizen or consumer power may bring some changes to policies as well as support for those seriously affected by rising costs of not only food, but other daily necessities.
I believe over the years, consumer power has weakened in this country along with democratic space for other civic institutions. We also continue to see a rationing of justice.
Consumers are also voters, citizens, taxpayers and owners of public assets through the various funds that we contribute to. We need to strengthen the power we have and participate in politics and policies as they impact even our access to the humble kangkung.
JOSIE FERNANDEZ is a researcher, social activist and an Asian Public Intellectual Fellow.
Food, next to life, is mankind’s greatest common denominator. It reflects our identity, culture and has moral and religious significance. Its availability and price can stabilise or destabilise governments.
For example, rising cost and shortages in the supply of chillies, a key ingredient in the making of kimchi, can bring down a government in South Korea. Women will get on to the streets of Delhi, Mumbai and Chenai if the prices of onion soar, for without onions an Indian meal is incomplete. And women are an important pool of voters.A prime minister of pedigree descent used the kangkung as an example to reach out to the poor as they are likely to consume more of this hardy perennial, grown everywhere in Southeast Asia. Asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower or romaine lettuce are what can be seen in the baskets of the middle class.
I recollect, whilie living and working in Penang I often purchased fresh produce from the Pulau Tikus market as it was close to where I lived. Each time I passed a particular vendor he would say, “Hari ini kembong (a kind of mackeral) dan kangkung murah (Today the kembong and kangkung are cheap)...”
I further observed that to some others he would point to the expensive kurau, senangin and asparagus or broccoli. One day I decided to ask him why he did not point the senangin and asparagus to me instead of the kangkung and kembong. He was stunned.
I learnt that the Pulau Tikus market was not only expensive, but catered to a particular class. Food is about class too. However, with soaring food prices, even the kembong and kangkung are not within the reach of poor households.
On a recent visit to Tasik Chini where I have many friends, I was shocked to learn that a kilo of ikan kembong costs RM15 and that the Orang Asli would have to drive to the shops in Felda to purchase saltwater fish. Tasik Chini is in the prime minister’s constituency, yet the families I spoke to said that they are struggling to purchase adequate food for their families.
In the upmarket supermarkets like in Bangsar, shoppers fill their trolleys with broccoli, asparagus, imported meat, cheese, cherries, avocados, wholegrain bread... food is about class too.
Business and politics control food
Food was viewed as a sustainer of life, but today food is a political weapon, a major source of corporate cash flow, monopolies and an instrument of power. Food is seen in the context of a market - in fact, a global market - and not in the context of a community. Our food and agriculture policies, food production and delivery systems are geared towards profit for the few and politically-connected.
Susan George, author of Feeding the Few, aptly said, “Corporations are not there to feed people, they are not there to provide jobs, they are there to make a profit. Period. So one should not expect them to be feeding people who cannot pay”.
It is the BN-led government policies that have given corporations and a few politically-connected the control over land, food production and food prices. 70 percent of arable land in Malaysia has been given away for oil palm plantations. Oil palm has replaced large areas of forests and resulted in substantial biodiversity loss.
Loss of land and biodiversity seriously impact food production. Malaysia will not be able to attain self-sufficiency in food because of policies that favour the rich and politically-connected.
The concentration of assets such as land and power in the hands of a few may result in a permanent food crisis situation for the poor.
Add to these factors, the impact of climate change on food yields and rising energy costs, Malaysia is a food insecure country. Our food and agriculture policies have failed to address the nexus between food, energy and the environment.
According to a paper published in 2013 by Lestari, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 34.3 percent of poor households in Kuala Lumpur are food insecure. Given the current prices, one can safely assume that the number of food insecure households will reach alarming rates with devastating effects on children and future generations.Najib (right) has reminded us that consumption has never existed outside of politics, as many historians have written as well. In their book, the Politics of Consumption, Martin Daunton and Mathew Hilton point out that states have had some form of market regulation since the Middle Ages. For example in 16th century France, purchasers of rotten eggs were allowed to throw them back at the vendor! Such regulations favoured those in power too.
The brouhaha over Najib’s reference to kangkung and blaming the weather over rising food prices will soon die down. What do we do about increasing food prices and transport, fuel and energy costs?
A strong citizen or consumer power may bring some changes to policies as well as support for those seriously affected by rising costs of not only food, but other daily necessities.
I believe over the years, consumer power has weakened in this country along with democratic space for other civic institutions. We also continue to see a rationing of justice.
Consumers are also voters, citizens, taxpayers and owners of public assets through the various funds that we contribute to. We need to strengthen the power we have and participate in politics and policies as they impact even our access to the humble kangkung.
JOSIE FERNANDEZ is a researcher, social activist and an Asian Public Intellectual Fellow.
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