What Is That Food Security Committe Doing?

At the beginning of the MCO (March 18th? 2020) I pointed out that we must focus on securing the nation's food supplies. Food security. 

A couple of days later the government appointed some committee or task force (headed by Azmin) to look into our food security. 

What has this committee or task force been doing since then? 

First here is an important news report (thank you to the reader for posting this as a comment in the previous post) regarding our food security :

Govt should look into worldwide food security issues raised by FAO

said former Agriculture Industry deputy minister Sim Tze Tzin

lockdown by several countries affected global supply chain

People finding difficult to access quality, nutritious food

We urge Govt to look into issues raised by FAO

M'sia imports RM50b food per year, global supply chain problem affects us 

we import onions from India but now India under  lockdown

difficulty transporting onions to ports and finally to Malaysia

M'sia imports wheat from Australia which enforced lockdown 

when wheat cannot reach us, bread supply will be affected

Govt must address these issues 

problem will only come 2-3 months down the road

Vietnam our major source of rice imports stopped new contracts

We don’t know when they will reopen contracts

when old contracts end we will have problems

Vietnam’s non-approval of new contracts since Feb 26

price of Thai white rice has gone up by 30%

there is no shortage of food in the world 

that there is enough food for everyone

problem is that food cannot be shipped out 

because people not working due to lockdown 

ports have reduced issuing permits

urged all Malaysians to buy Malaysian products first to help local producers 

farmers, fishermen, poultry sellers all over country are suffering

their items cannot be sold and their produce being dumped

My comments :  Spot on. In my posting about Food Security I already raised the issue of onions from India and the impending (at that time) lockdowns around the world which will prevent the shipment of food around the world. 

The biggest problems will be :

1. not having the food products physically available for sale (for example onions from India)

2. and as a result food prices shooting up (that 30% price increase for Thai rice)

These are the two main things which that Task Force or Committee headed by Azmin should be handling.  What are they doing?

Rice is absolutely essential. 

So is wheat. 

Now here is the problem. 

In Malaysia no one can import rice except one monopoly company.

That monopoly runs on profit.

If the price of rice increases the monopoly will make more money.

Without having to exert any extra effort. Lori, gudang, kontena semua sama.

So do you think that monopoly will care about finding the cheapest sources of rice?

I really do not think so.

Tuan-tuan orang Melayu faham tak?

Ini isu "dasar ketuanan Melayu" juga lah.

Bila harga beras naik, monopoli akan lebih untung.

Tuan-tuan kena bayar lebih lah untuk beli beras.

Melayu marhaen miskin dulu.

Melayu korporat sudah lama jadi kaya.

Apa maksud Food Security?

What is the meaning of Food Security?

1.  There must be sufficient quantities of food available for the people to buy.

2.  The prices of food must be as low and as stable as possible, with no sudden price hikes.

This is what the government must do now. 

Can the government do this? 

If this Corona Virus prolongs Food Security is going to be an issue.