Speaker moots using cassava as rice substitute

 

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul said local governments and authorities should facilitate the use of idle land for cultivating food crops such as cassava.  (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul has called on the public to explore alternative carbohydrate sources such as cassava (tapioca) in light of the shortage of local white rice.

He said it is important to find nutritional substitutes for local white rice while solutions to its supply problem are being explored.

“I have discussed (the matter) and it has come to my attention that this (using cassava) has been successful in Sarawak.

“(Hence), if we can introduce supplementary food to replace rice, I am confident we can opt to cultivate whatever suitable type of cassava,” New Straits Times quoted him as saying.

Johari also said local governments and authorities should facilitate the use of idle land for cultivating food crops to enhance self-sufficiency and mitigate the country’s high food import bill.

In February, agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said Malaysia’s total agricultural food imports from January to November last year amounted to RM71.6 billion.

In a written Dewan Rakyat reply, Mohamad said grains and grain products had the highest import value, totalling RM10.84 billion.

He previously said his ministry will continue discussions with stakeholders to formulate a long-term plan for sustainable rice production. - FMT